offset
UK: ˈɒfset | US: ˈɔːfset
n. 1. A compensating equivalent or counterbalance.
n. 2. A method of printing where ink is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface.
vt. 1. To compensate for or counterbalance something.
vt. 2. To place something out of alignment or at a distance.
The word "offset" originated in the mid-16th century, combining "off" (Old English of, meaning "away") and "set" (Old English settan, meaning "to place or fix"). Initially, it described a literal "setting off" or branching out, such as a side shoot from a plant. Over time, it evolved metaphorically to denote compensation (balancing one thing against another) and technical uses like printing, where ink is "set off" indirectly. The logic reflects physical separation ("off") followed by deliberate placement ("set").
The company used carbon credits to offset its emissions.
The printer adjusted the plates to prevent offset smudging.
The garden’s new growth appeared as an offset from the main stem.
Higher interest rates offset the gains in housing demand.
She offset her expenses by taking on freelance work.