Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
COMPROMISE
I. noun see: promise
Date: 15th century
1. settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions, something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things, a concession to something derogatory or prejudicial ,
II. verb (-mised; -mising)
Date: 1598
transitive verb to bind by mutual agreement, to adjust or settle by mutual concessions,
3. to expose to suspicion, discredit, or mischief , to reveal or expose to an unauthorized person and especially to an enemy , to cause the impairment of , intransitive verb
1. to come to agreement by mutual concession, to find or follow a way between extremes, to make a shameful or disreputable concession , compromiser noun