The word "are commensurate" is spelled /ər kəˈmɛnsərət/. The first syllable, "are," is spelled with a schwa sound followed by the letter "r." The second syllable, "com," is spelled with an unstressed "o" sound followed by the letters "m" and "e." The third syllable, "men," is spelled with an unstressed "e" sound followed by the letters "n" and "s." The fourth syllable, "sur," is spelled with an unstressed "u" sound followed by the letters "r" and "a" sounding like "sh." The final syllable, "ate," is spelled with a stressed "a" sound followed by the letters "t" and "e." Therefore, "are commensurate" is pronounced "uh-r kuh-men-suh-ruht."
The term "are commensurate" refers to a situation where two or more things are in proper proportion or correspond to each other in terms of quantity, quality, value, or significance. It indicates that the two entities being compared or evaluated are equal or adequately balanced in relation to each other.
When something is described as "are commensurate," it suggests that there is harmony or fairness in the relationship between the compared elements. It implies that the characteristics, attributes, or factors of these elements are sufficiently similar, matching, or parallel to one another.
This notion is commonly employed to determine equivalence or suitability between different aspects or criteria. For instance, in employment contexts, it may refer to the concept that a person's salary or compensation should reflect their skills, qualifications, and responsibilities. In this case, if the compensation and job requirements are commensurate, it indicates that they are appropriately aligned and reflect a fair balance.
The phrase "are commensurate" also implies a form of consistency or appropriateness. It implies that there is a direct correlation between the qualities, measurements, or values being compared. It suggests that the compared elements are at a reasonable or fair level, in accordance with established norms, standards, or expectations.
Overall, when something "are commensurate," it signifies a sense of balance and fairness, indicating that the compared factors or entities correspond to each other appropriately and adequately.
The word "are commensurate" does not have a specific etymology on its own because it is essentially a combination of two separate words.
"Are" is the second person plural present tense of the verb "to be" in English. It can be traced back to Old English and is related to the German word "sind" and the Dutch word "zijn".
"Commensurate" comes from the Latin word "commensuratus", which is a combination of "com-" meaning "together" and "mensura" meaning "measure". It entered the English language in the 17th century and means "corresponding in size or degree; in proportion".
Therefore, when combined, "are commensurate" means that something is in proportion or corresponds in size or degree.