Etymologically
Log in

compromise

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:23. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

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

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