compromise

English Online Dictionary. What means compromise‎? What does compromise mean?

English

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.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒmpɹəˌmaɪz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑmpɹəˌmaɪz/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈkɔmpɹəˌmɑɪz/
• Rhymes: -aɪz

Noun

compromise (countable and uncountable, plural compromises)

1. The settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions.
2. A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender.
3. (computer security) 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.

Related terms

• promise

Translations

Further reading

• “compromise”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “compromise”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Verb

compromise (third-person singular simple present compromises, present participle compromising, simple past and past participle compromised)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To bind by mutual agreement.
2. To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound.

   Synonym: split the difference
3. (intransitive) 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.
5. (transitive) To cause impairment of.
6. (transitive) To breach (a security system).

Derived terms

• anticompromise
• compromisable
• compromisation
• compromise rules
• compromiser
• compromising (adjective)

Translations

Further reading

• Compromise in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

Anagrams

• micropoems

Italian

Verb

compromise

1. third-person singular past historic of compromettere