compromise

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions.

   That's the nature of compromises. They truly satisfy no one.

   2021 June 30, Philip Haigh, “Regional trains squeezed as ECML congestion heads north”, in RAIL, number 934, page 53

   3 more examples

   But basely yielded upon compromise / That which his noble ancestors achieved with blows.

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

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

   1775, Edmund Burke, Conciliation with America

   An abhorrence of concession and compromise is a never failing characteristic of religious factions.

   1827, Henry Hallam, The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC

2. countableuncountableA committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender.

   a compromise of character or right

   1 more example

   I was determined not to accept any fine speeches, to the compromise of that sex the belonging to which was, after all, my strongest claim and title to them.

   1823, Charles Lamb, Modern Gallantry

3. countableuncountablecomputer securityA breach of a computer or network's rules such that an unauthorized disclosure or loss of sensitive information may have occurred, or the unauthorized disclosure or loss itself.

In a sentence

But basely yielded upon compromise / That which his noble ancestors achieved with blows.

1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

Where it comes from

1. Latincompromissus
2. Late Latincompromissum“a compromise, originally a mutual promise to refer to arbitration”
3. Middle Frenchcompromis
4. Englishcompromise

From Middle French compromis, from Medieval Latin, Late Latin compromissum (“a compromise, originally a mutual promise to refer to arbitration”), prop. neuter of Latin compromissus, past participle of compromittere (“to make a mutual promise to abide by the decision of an arbiter”), from com- (“together”) + promittere (“to promise”); see promise.