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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Compromise \Com"pro*mise\, noun [F. compromis, fr. L. compromissum a mutual promise to abide by the decision of an arbiter, fr. compromittere to make such a promise; com- + promittere to promise. See {Promise}.]
1. A mutual agreement to refer matters in dispute to the decision of arbitrators. [Obs.] --Burrill.
2. A settlement by arbitration or by mutual consent reached by concession on both sides; a reciprocal abatement of extreme demands or rights, resulting in an agreement.
But basely yielded upon compromise That which his noble ancestors achieved with blows. --Shak.
All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter. --Burke.
An abhorrence of concession and compromise is a never failing characteristic of religious factions. --Hallam.
3. A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender; as, 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. --Lamb.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Compromise \Com"pro*mise\, verb (used without an object)
1. To agree; to accord. [Obs.]
2. To make concession for conciliation and peace.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Compromise \Com"pro*mise\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Compromised}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Compromising}.] [From {Compromise}, noun; cf. {Compromit}.]
1. To bind by mutual agreement; to agree. [Obs.]
Laban and himself were compromised That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied Should fall as Jacob's hire. --Shak.
2. To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound.
The controversy may easily be compromised. --Fuller.
3. 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. --Motley.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
compromise
noun
1: a middle way between two extremes [syn: {via media}]
2: an accommodation in which both sides make concessions; "the newly elected congressmen rejected a compromise because they considered it 'business as usual'"
verb
1: make a compromise; arrive at a compromise; "nobody will get everything he wants; we all must compromise"
2: settle by concession
3: expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute; "The nuclear secrets of the state were compromised by the spy"
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
158 Moby Thesaurus words for "compromise": Eisenhower Doctrine, Monroe Doctrine, Nixon Doctrine, Truman Doctrine, accommodate, accommodation, adjust, adjustment, agreement, amends, appeasement, arrange matters, arrangement, atonement, balance of power, bargain, blast, blight, bring to terms, bring together, brinkmanship, center, coexistence, colonialism, compact, compensation, compose, composition, composition of differences, compound, containment, contract, cool, cop out, detente, deterrence, diplomacy, diplomatic, diplomatics, dollar diplomacy, dollar imperialism, duck responsibility, encounter danger, endanger, evade responsibility, expansionism, expiation, expiatory offering, expose, fence, fix up, foreign affairs, foreign policy, gamble, gamble with, give and take, give way, go fifty-fifty, golden mean, good-neighbor policy, half measures, half-and-half measures, halfway measures, happy medium, harmonize, hazard, heal the breach, imperialism, imperil, incur danger, indemnification, indemnity, internationalism, isolationism, jeopard, jeopardize, jeopardy, lay open, make a deal, make an adjustment, make concessions, making amends, making good, making right, making up, manifest destiny, mar, mean, mediate, medium, meet halfway, menace, middle course, middle ground, middle way, militarism, moderateness, moderation, nationalism, neocolonialism, neutral ground, neutralism, nonresistance, open door, open-door policy, pact, patch things up, peace offensive, peace offering, peaceful coexistence, peril, piaculum, play havoc with, play politics, preparedness, propitiation, put in danger, put in jeopardy, put in tune, queer, quittance, reach a compromise, reclamation, recompense, reconcile, redemption, redress, reparation, resolution, resolve, restitution, restore harmony, reunite, risk, ruin, satisfaction, settle, settle differences, settlement, shirt-sleeve diplomacy, shuttle diplomacy, smooth it over, spheres of influence, split the difference, spoil, squaring, strike a balance, strike a bargain, surrender, take the mean, terms, the big stick, tough policy, understanding, via media, weave peace between, world politics, yield
From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:
COMPROMISE, noun Such an adjustment of conflicting interests as gives each adversary the satisfaction of thinking he has got what he ought not to have, and is deprived of nothing except what was justly his due.
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