An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

To reduce or balance the effect of something unwanted by exerting an opposite force or effect.

Etymology (EN): From L. compensatus, p.p. of compensare “to weigh one thing (against another),” thus, “to counterbalance,” from → com- “with”+ pensare, frequentative of pendere “to weigh, to hang.”

Etymology (PE): Pâhangidan, from pâhang (Dehxodâ) “that which is put in a balance scale to equalize the weights,” from pâ- variant of pâd-, → counter-, + hangidan variant of sanjidan “to measure; compare, put in balance,” → object.