- com|pro|mise
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–v.t.1. to settle (a quarrel or difference of opinion) by agreeing that each will give up a part of what he demands; come to terms about: »
To speak truth, I compromised matters; I served two masters (Charlotte Brontë).
SYNONYM(S): adjust.2. to put under suspicion; put in danger: »to compromise one's reputation.
SYNONYM(S): endanger, jeopardize, imperil.3. Obsolete. to bind by agreement.–v.i.to make a compromise: »A good politician knows how to compromise.
–n.1. a) a settlement of a quarrel or a difference of opinion by a partial yielding on both sides: »They both wanted the apple; their compromise was to share it.
SYNONYM(S): accommodation, adjustment. b) adjustment for practical purposes of rival systems, theories, etc., by a partial yielding on both sides: »The essence of politics is compromise (Macaulay).
2. the result of any such settlement or adjustment: »the Missouri Compromise.
3. anything halfway between two different things: »A sofa is a compromise between a chair and a bed.
SYNONYM(S): mean, balance.4. an exposing to danger, suspicion, etc.; an endangering. SYNONYM(S): imperilment.–adj.agreed on by compromise; representing a compromise: »a compromise candidate.
╂[< Old French compromis, learned borrowing from Latin comprōmissum, neuter past participle of comprōmittere < com- together + prōmittere promise]–com´pro|mis´er, noun.–com´pro|mis´ing|ly, adverb.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.