I. com ‧ pro ‧ mise 1 /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz $ ˈkɑːm-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: compromis , from Latin compromissum 'joint promise' , from compromittere , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + promittere ( , ↑ promise 2 ) ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] an agreement that is achieved after everyone involved accepts less than what they wanted at first, or the act of making this agreement:
Compromise is an inevitable part of marriage.
To stop the argument they decided on a compromise.
compromise with
Fresh attempts at compromise with the legislature were also on the agenda.
compromise between
a compromise between government and opposition
If moderates fail to reach a compromise, the extremists will dominate the agenda.
Be prepared to make compromises.
2 . [countable] a solution to a problem in which two things or situations are changed slightly so that they can exist together
compromise between
a happy compromise between the needs of family and work
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ reach a compromise
After a bitter political fight, a compromise was finally reached.
▪ come to/arrive at a compromise
The negotiations took place and they arrived at a compromise.
▪ accept/agree on a compromise
It would be advantageous for both countries to accept a compromise.
▪ find/work out a compromise
A temporary compromise was found.
▪ seek a compromise
Both Democrats and Republicans are seeking a compromise on the issue.
▪ make a compromise
Marriage involves being tolerant and making compromises.
▪ forge/strike a compromise formal (=make a compromise)
They met again Wednesday night to try to forge a compromise.
▪ broker/negotiate a compromise formal (=find one that everyone can accept, especially with difficulty)
They admitted that their efforts to negotiate a compromise had failed.
▪ lead to a compromise
Negotiations between the residents and the council led to a compromise.
■ adjectives
▪ a good compromise
I hope we can reach a good compromise.
▪ an acceptable/reasonable/satisfactory compromise
By 1982 an acceptable compromise had been reached.
▪ a sensible compromise
The strikes continued and there seemed to be no chance of a sensible compromise.
▪ an uneasy compromise (=one that people are not very happy with)
The deal represented an uneasy compromise.
■ compromise + NOUN
▪ a compromise proposal
The House of Representatives accepted a compromise proposal from the administration.
▪ a compromise deal
Hopes are rising for a European compromise deal.
▪ a compromise solution/agreement
The president was under increasing pressure to reach a compromise solution with his political opponents.
II. compromise 2 BrE AmE verb
1 . [intransitive] to reach an agreement in which everyone involved accepts less than what they wanted at first:
She admitted that she was unable to compromise.
compromise with
His workmates demanded that he never compromise with the bosses.
compromise on
The new regime was prepared to compromise on the oil dispute.
2 . [transitive] to do something which is against your principles and which therefore seems dishonest or shameful
compromise your principles/standards/integrity etc
As soon as you compromise your principles you are lost.
compromise yourself
She had already compromised herself by accepting his invitation.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ compromise + NOUN
▪ compromise your integrity
The journalist would not compromise his integrity by revealing the source for the story.
▪ compromise your principles
The government says the plans will not compromise its environmental principles.
▪ compromise your standards
Universities should not have to compromise their academic standards.
▪ compromise your beliefs/convictions/ideals
Anti-war activists were put in prison for refusing to compromise their beliefs.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ compromise to reach an agreement with someone in which both of you accept less than you really want:
The employers will have to be ready to compromise if they want to avoid a strike.
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The President might be willing to compromise on defense spending.
▪ meet somebody halfway to do part of what someone wants if they do part of what you want, in order to reach an agreement:
Is the President ready to meet these senators halfway?
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The asking price is £270,000. If the sellers won’t accept £250,000, maybe they would be prepared to meet us halfway and take £260,000?
▪ make concessions if one group in a disagreement makes concessions, they let their opponents have something that they are asking for, in order to reach an agreement:
The company has already made significant concessions on pay and conditions.
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There is a policy of making no concessions to terrorists.