compromise

(kŏm'prə-mīz')
n.

1. 1. A settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions.
   2. The result of such a settlement.
2. Something that combines qualities or elements of different things: The incongruous design is a compromise between high tech and early American.
3. A concession to something detrimental or pejorative: a compromise of morality.

v., -mised, -mis·ing, -mis·es.

v.intr.

1. To arrive at a settlement by making concessions.
2. To reduce the quality, value, or degree of something.

v.tr.

1. 1. To expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute: a secret mission that was compromised and had to be abandoned; compromise one's standing in the community.
   2. To reduce in quality, value, or degree; weaken or lower.
2. To impair by disease or injury: an immune system that was compromised by a virus.
3. To settle by mutual concessions: a dispute that was compromised.

[Middle English compromis, from Old French, from Latin comprōmissum, mutual promise, from neuter past participle of comprōmittere, to promise mutually : com-, com- + prōmittere, to promise; see promise.]

compromiser com'pro·mis'er n.

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Trade-off of one factor of comparable value for another in management practice and labor-management relations. In a true compromise each party concedes something the other side finds acceptable.

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noun

A settlement of differences through mutual concession: accommodation, arrangement, give-and-take, medium, settlement. Law composition. See agree/disagree.

verb

1. To make a concession: concede. Idioms: give and take, go fifty-fifty, meet someone halfway. See agree/disagree.
2. To expose to possible loss or damage: adventure, hazard, risk, venture. See safety/danger.

n

Definition: agreement, give-and-take
Antonyms: contention, contest, controversy, difference, disagreement, dispute, dissension, dissent, quarrel

v

Definition: give and take
Antonyms: contest, differ, disagree, dispute, dissent, quarrel

v

Definition: put in jeopardy
Antonyms: guard, protect, save

(Heb. pesharah). A settlement in cases between two litigants, where the decision rendered is agreed upon by both. While Jewish law has an entire section of the Shulḥan Arukh, the basic compilation of Jewish law, devoted to torts (the Ḥoshen Mishpat) and thus offers clear guidelines for rulings in such cases, the general tendency has been for the judges to work out---or have the litigants work out---a compromise whereby both will be satisfied with the final decision.

The Talmud (Sanh. 6b) offers three separate views as to the value of the practice of arbitration. The most extreme is that of R. Eliezer, son of Yosé Ha-Gelili, who forbids all arbitration. He rules that all cases must be decided according to the strict letter of the law, regardless of the consequences, and, as he puts it, "Let the law cut through the mountain" if necessary. R. Joshua ben Korḥa takes the opposite view, namely that arbitration and compromise are more desirable than a verdict, and that there is a positive commandment to attempt to reach a compromise in all cases. Finally, there is the middle view of R. Simeon ben Menasya, who, while not advocating arbitration and not forbidding it, believes that arbitration is a permissible option should both sides agree to it.

The rule in the above dispute is in accordance with the view of R. Joshua ben Korḥa, namely that the first resort should be to arbitration and compromise. Indeed, especially when one of the litigants might have been required by Jewish law to swear an oath---an act that rabbis tried to avoid if at all possible---every effort was made by the rabbis to try to reach a compromise and avoid such an oath. In recent times, too, rabbis hearing such cases have generally tried to have the parties reach a compromise---even with the active participation of the court---rather than instituting formal proceedings and rendering a verdict.

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“Compromise is the name of the game in the legislative process,” argued Representative Richard Bolling (Democrat-Missouri). Henry Clay (Whig-Kentucky) gained fame as the “Great Compromiser,” but “Battling Bob” La Follette (Republican-Wisconsin) preferred to lose rather than to compromise. Most members of Congress want to win without sacrificing their principles, but they recognize that because Congress represents such a diverse nation, conflicts over legislation are inevitable. To accomplish anything, they have to accommodate many conflicting positions and forge a consensus. Senate majority leader Alben Barkley (Democrat-Kentucky) insisted that “all legislation is a matter of compromise” and that no member should expect a bill to be enacted exactly as he introduced it. Other senators and representatives, in committee or on the floor, would see things differently and offer amendments to correct whatever problems or deficiencies they found. Very few bills become law with more than 50 to 75 percent of what their authors originally proposed. However, a bill's sponsors must decide when too much compromise might defeat their purposes and make their bill ineffective.

Sources

• Richard Bolling, Power in the House: A History of the Leadership of the House of Representatives (New York: Dutton, 1968)

(DOD) The known or suspected exposure of clandestine personnel, installations, or other assets or of classified information or material, to an unauthorized person.

A cynical view of the world by Ambrose Bierce

n.

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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IN BRIEF: To settle a dispute by giving up something wanted. Also: To bring into danger or bring under suspicion.

If power corrupts, weakness in the seat of power, with its constant necessity of deals and bribes and compromising arrangements, corrupts even more. — Barbara Tuchman (1912-1989).

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Quotes:

"Compromise. 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." - Ambrose Bierce

"The compromise will always be more expensive than either of the suggestions it is compromising." - Arthur Bloch

"All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter." - Edmund Burke

"What are facts but compromises? A fact merely marks the point where we have agreed to let investigation cease." - Bliss Carman

"Compromise used to mean that half a loaf was better than no bread. Among modern statesmen it really seems to mean that half a loaf ;is better than a whole loaf." - Gilbert K. Chesterton

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile -- hoping it will eat him last." - Winston Churchill

See more famous quotes about Compromise

1. lacking adequate resistance to infection, or lacking the ability to mount an adequate immune response, owing to a course of treatment, e.g. immunosuppressive drugs or infections, irradiation, or to an underlying disorder, e.g. leukemia.
2. lacking a sufficient blood supply to remain viable.

(käm′prəmīz′)
n

An arrangement arrived at, in or out of court, for settling a disagreement on terms considered by the parties to be fair.

For a list of words related to compromise, see:

• Diplomacy and Diplomats - compromise: accord reached by mutual concession
• Strategy and Tactics - compromise: (vb) make mutual concessions to achieve overall end or reach agreement

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See words rhyming with "compromiser."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Compromise.

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Common misspelling(s) of compromise

• comprimise

Dansk (Danish)
n. - kompromis, overenskomst, forlig
v. tr. - afgøre i mindelighed, kompromittere, bringe i fare
v. intr. - gøre indrømmelser, gå på akkord, indgå forlig

Nederlands (Dutch)
een compromis sluiten, compromitteren, in gevaar brengen, water bij de wijn doen, compromis, de goede naam schaden van

Français (French)
n. - compromis
v. tr. - compromettre, mettre qch en péril, (US) régler (dispute)
v. intr. - transiger, arriver à un compromis, se compromettre

Deutsch (German)
n. - Kompromiß
v. - zu einem Kompromiß gelangen, kompromittieren

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - συμβιβασμός, συμβιβαστική λύση, συγκερασμός (δύο πραγμάτων)
v. - συμβιβάζομαι, διακινδυνεύω, εκθέτω σε σκάνδαλο ή κίνδυνο

Italiano (Italian)
venire a un compromesso, compromettere, mitigarsi, compromesso

Português (Portuguese)
n. - compromisso (m), acordo (m)
v. - chegar a um acordo, comprometer, transigir

Русский (Russian)
находить компромисс, компрометировать, поступаться

Español (Spanish)
n. - arreglo, avenencia, compromiso, solución intermedia
v. tr. - transigir, llegar a un arreglo, comprometer, menoscabar la fama, llegar a un término medio
v. intr. - avenirse, comprometerse

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - kompromiss, eftergift, äventyrande
v. - kompromissa, göra ackord, kompromettera, bilägga, äventyra

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
妥协, 折衷案, 折衷, 互让解决, 放弃, 连累, 危及, 泄露, 让步

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 妥協, 折衷案, 折衷
v. tr. - 互讓解決, 放棄, 連累, 危及, 洩露
v. intr. - 妥協, 讓步

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 타협 , 절충물
v. tr. - 타협하여 처리하다, 양보하다, 더럽히다
v. intr. - 타협하다, 불명예스러운 양보하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 妥協, 妥協案, 折衷案, 折衷したもの, 示談
v. - 妥協する, 歩み寄る, 傷を付ける

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) تسويه, حل وسط, ترضيه (فعل) تراضيا, توصلوا الى حل وسط, فضحه, وضعه موضع الشبهه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮פשרה, התפשרות‬
v. tr. - ‮העמיד בסכנה, התפשר, סיכן (שמו הטוב), הכפיש‬
v. intr. - ‮התפשר‬

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