First Known Use: 1641
Dictionary
commensurate
adjective com·men·su·rate \kə-ˈmen(t)s-rət, -ˈmen(t)sh-; -ˈmen(t)-sə-, -shə-\
: equal or similar to something in size, amount, or degree
Full Definition of COMMENSURATE
1
: equal in measure or extent : coextensive <lived a life commensurate with the early years of the republic>
2
: corresponding in size, extent, amount, or degree : proportionate <was given a job commensurate with her abilities>
3
: commensurable 1
— com·men·su·rate·ly adverb
— com·men·su·ra·tion \-ˌmen(t)-sə-ˈrā-shən, -shə-\ noun
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Examples of COMMENSURATE
- … athletes are rewarded commensurate with their fame, not their intrinsic talent … —Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 21 Dec. l987
- Because the effects of tobacco are slow—and iterative—and produce diseases that have other causes and explanations, often later in life, they seldom arouse fear commensurate with their impact. —Allan M. Brandt, The Cigarette Century, (2007) 2009
- I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God's will, but as human beings become more affluent, as their living standard and style begin to ascend the material scale, God descends the scale of responsibility at a commensurate speed. —Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969
- The last of the string family, the double bass, is the largest of all and must be played standing. Because it is seen in jazz bands, it has recently taken on an importance more nearly commensurate with its size. —Aaron Copland, What to Listen for in Music, (1957) 1988
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Origin of COMMENSURATE
Late Latin commensuratus, from Latin com- + Late Latin mensuratus, past participle of mensurare to measure, from Latin mensura measure — more at measure
Related to COMMENSURATE
- Synonyms
- commensurable, proportional, proportionate
- Antonyms
- disproportionate
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