Word: commensurate (adjective)

Associations

The word "commensurate" means "equal in size, amount, or degree." It is often used to show that something matches or corresponds well with something else.

• Example 1: "Salary will be commensurate with experience." This means the pay will match how much experience you have.
• Example 2: "Your punishment should be commensurate with the crime." This means the punishment should be fair and equal to the seriousness of the crime.
• Example 3: "The rewards were commensurate with the effort put in." This means the rewards matched the amount of effort.

Synonym: "proportional" is a close synonym. The difference is that "commensurate" often implies a fair or appropriate match, while "proportional" is more about mathematical or exact relationships.

Substitution

You can replace "commensurate" with:

• "proportional" (if you want to focus on exact size or amount)
• "corresponding" (if you want to say something matches or relates)
• "equivalent" (if you want to say two things are equal in value or meaning)

Changing the word may make the sentence more formal or more casual, or change the focus slightly (fairness vs. exactness).

Deconstruction

"commensurate" comes from Latin:

• prefix "com-" means "together" or "with"
• root "mensur-" means "measure"
• suffix "-ate" turns it into an adjective

So, "commensurate" literally means "measured together," or things that can be measured the same way or are equal in measure.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you received a reward or consequence that was commensurate with your actions?
• How would you explain "commensurate" to a friend using an example from school or work?
• When might it be important to make sure things are commensurate in real life? (For example, pay and work, or effort and reward)