compromise

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkɒmpɹəˌmaɪz/ (UK); /ˈkɑmpɹəˌmaɪz/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Middle French compromis,^[2][3][4] from Latin compromissum (“a mutual promise to abide by an arbiter's decision”), the neuter past participle of comprōmittere (“to make a mutual promise”),^[2][3][5] from com- (“together”) and prōmittere (“to promise”), from pro, before, and mittere, to send (see mission).^[3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A joint promise to abide by an arbiter's decision: 1426, in the Rolls of Parliament.^[2][7] Etymonline dates it to the early 15th century.^[3]

Semantic evolution

A settlement made by an arbiter is from 1479.^[7] A coming to terms by mutual concessions is from the mid-15th century, by extension to the settlement itself,^[3] and in the OED from 1516.^[7] The result of such an agreement is from the 1510s.^[3] The verb, to settle by concessions, is mid-15th-century,^[3] and to expose to risk or endanger the reputation of is from the 1690s.^[3] The same sense was formerly expressed by compromit (early 15th century).^[3]

Timeline

• 1426 – a joint promise to accept arbitration.^[2]
• mid-15th century – mutual concession; the verb.^[3]
• 1479 – an arbiter's settlement.^[7]
• 1690s – to endanger.^[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. An agreement reached by each side making concessions.
2. Something midway between two different things.

Verb

1. To settle a dispute by mutual concessions.
2. To accept standards lower than is desirable.
3. To expose to danger or suspicion; to weaken: compromise security.

Word family

• compromiser
• compromisingly
• procompromise

Related words

• promise
• mission
• emit
• compromising

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press