Forms: 5–7 comprimise, 6–7 -ize, 6 -prymise; 6–7 -premise, 6 -yse, -ize, -isse; 5 -promesse, 6 -isse, 7 -ize, (6 compramis), 5– compromise. [a. F. compromis, ad. L. comprōmiss-um, pa. pple. of comprōmittĕre (also OF. compromisce, L. type *compromiss-a): see COMPROMIT.]
† 1. Promise or mutual promise. rare. Obs.
1448. Craft of Lovers (R. suppl.). Me semeth by feiture of womanly property Ye should be trusty and trew of comprimis.
† 2. A joint promise or agreement made by contending parties to abide by the decision of an arbiter or referee. Also, the document in which such an agreement is drawn up. Obs.
1426. in Arnolde, Chron. (1520), 116. To this present compromise, my sayd Lorde of Glouceter hath subscribid his name … and in semblable forme my lorde of Winchester in a nother compromise subscribid wt his hande … to stond at the aduyse ordinaunce and arbitrement of ye parsons abouesayd.
1464. Plumpton Corr., 10. Horbury sais that ye & the minister stand in comprimise to abide the award of Sir John Malivera & others.
a. 1559. Tonstal, Lett., in Burnet, Records, No. 9 (R.). The compromise of them all made unto the said King Edward the First to stand to his judgment.
1594. West, Symbol., II. Compromise, § 1. A Compromise is the faculty or power of pronouncing sentence between persons at variance, given to Arbitrators by the parties mutuall private consent.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Compromize.
b. Election by compromise: see quots.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 242. The third Form of an Election was that of a Compromissum, viz. when some certain Clergymen qualified by Law had a power granted to them of electing by a Compromise.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Compromise … in beneficiary matters … signifies an act, whereby those who have the right of election, transfer it to one or more persons, to elect a person capable of the office.
1885. Cath. Dict., 204/1. Compromise is, when all the cardinals agree to entrust the election to a small committee of two or three members of the body.
3. The settlement or arrangement made by an arbiter between contending parties: arbitration.
1479. in Eng. Gilds, 426. The Maire and Shiref of Bristowe to kepe theire due residence at the Counter … to sett parties in rest and case by theire advertysement, compromesse, or otherwise; ynless then it so requyre that they must remit theym to the lawe.
1580. E. Knight, Tryall of Truth, 30 (T.). Either the parties are persuaded by friends, or by their lawyers, to put the matter in comprymise.
1591. Horsey, Trav. (Hakluyt Soc.), 256. The Company and I made even of all things euer past betwen us, by compramis of fower woorthy personages.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 33. I … will be glad to do my beneuolence, to make attonements and compremises betweene you.
1644. Bulwer, Chirol., 93. Those who … refer their controversies to an arbiter, put to comprimise, or chuse an umpier.
4. A coming to terms, or arrangement of a dispute, by concessions on both sides; partial surrender of one’s position, for the sake of coming to terms; the concession or terms offered by either side.
In U.S. history, the name of various arrangements between contending sections on the questions of the tariff, (e.g., Compromise Act of 1833) and of slavery (Missouri Compromise of 1820, Compromise of 1850, Crittenden C. of 1860).
1516. Fabyan, VII. 663. The sayd Cristofer suyd the sheryffes … and fynally [they] were fayne, by waye of compremyse, to gyue vnto hym an hondreth marke.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 253. War’d he hath not, But basely yeelded vpon comprimize, That which his Ancestors atchieu’d with blowes. Ibid. (1595), John, V. i. 67. Shall we … make comprimise, Insinuation, parley, and base truce To Armes Inuasiue?
1726. Berkeley, Lett. T. Prior, 12 Nov., Wks. 1871, IV. 137. If the affair with Partinton were adjusted this winter, by reference or compromise.
1845. S. Austin, Ranke’s Hist. Ref., II. 509. It was … necessary to come to a compromise with the papal commissioners.
1878. Gen. R. Taylor, in N. Amer. Rev., CXXVI. 77. The Missouri Compromise of 1820.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xv. 225. Invidious laws had been softened by compromise.
b. A settlement of debts by composition.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. 388. Munir-al-Mulk had consented to a compromise of his debts.
5. fig. Adjustment for practical purposes of rival courses of action, systems, or theories, conflicting opinions or principles, by the sacrifice or surrender of a part of each.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymnotheo, Poet. Wks. 1721, III. 119. I in my Breast would lodge a double Mind, One to the World, and one to Heav’n inclin’d; And by this Com-promise strove to adjust The Rights of Conscience, and the Claims of Lust.
1775. Burke, Sp. Conc. Amer., Wks. III. 111. All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter … we give and take; we remit some rights, that we may enjoy others.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., x. II. 629. Logic admits of no compromise. The essence of politics is compromise.
1860. Kingsley, Misc., II. 65. Our governors now … make a fair compromise between discipline and freedom.
b. quasi-concr. Applied to anything that results from or embodies such an arrangement.
1797. Godwin, Enquirer, I. i. 2. All virtue is a compromise between opposite motives and inducements.
1821. J. Q. Adams, in C. Davies, Metr. Syst., III. (1871), 175. This last decree is a compromise between philosophical theory and inveterate popular habits.
1858. J. Martineau, Studies Chr., 270. You deny the self-consistency of the Church of England and call it a compromise.
6. A putting in peril or hazard, endangering, exposure to risk or suspicion: see COMPROMISE v. 8. † To put to compromise [F. mettre en compromis]: to risk, hazard, imperil (obs.).
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 172. It is absurd … to hazzard and put to comprimise (as it were) our owne reputation and vertue for another man.
1844. Lever, T. Burke, lv. Where each could come without compromise of dignity.
