compromise
nounverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈkɒmpɹəˌmaɪz//
- United States//ˈkɑmpɹəˌmaɪz//
- Canada//ˈkɒmpɹəˌmaɪz//
- Australia//ˈkɔmpɹəˌmɑez//
The settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions.
noun
- 1
The settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions.
But basely yielded upon compromise / That which his noble ancestors achieved with blows.
All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.
An abhorrence of concession and compromise is a never failing characteristic of religious factions.
That's the nature of compromises. They truly satisfy no one.
- 2
A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender.
a compromise of character or right
I was determined not to accept any fine speeches, to the compromise of that sex the belonging to which was, after all, my strongest claim and title to them.
- 3
A breach of a computer or network's rules such that an unauthorized disclosure or loss of sensitive information may have occurred, or the unauthorized disclosure or loss itself.
Etymology
From Middle French compromis, from Medieval Latin, Late Latin compromissum (“a compromise, originally a mutual promise to refer to arbitration”), prop. neuter of Latin compromissus, past participle of compromittere (“to make a mutual promise to abide by the decision of an arbiter”), from com- (“together”) + promittere (“to promise”); see promise.
verb
- 1
To bind by mutual agreement.
Laban and himself were compromised / That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied / Should fall as Jacob's hire.
In all the flutter of peace talk, a public desire to be done with war, and a readiness to compromise through mediation, was revealed.
- 2
To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound.
The controversy may easily be compromised.
- 3
To find a way between extremes.
- 4
To pledge by some act or declaration; to endanger the life, reputation, etc., of, by some act which can not be recalled; to expose to suspicion.
to pardon all who had been compromised in the late disturbances
- 5
To cause impairment of.
- 6
To illegally expose.
He compromised dozens of United States Government classified documents […]
- 7
To breach (a security system).
They tried to compromise the security in the computer by guessing the password.
Forms
- plural
- compromises
- past tense
- compromised
- past participle
- compromised
- present participle
- compromising
- third person singular
- compromises
compromise · The settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions.
Compromise · A township in Champaign County, Illinois, United States.compromised · That has been exposed to danger, risk, or discredit.compromising · Willing or able to make a compromise.