The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Compromise \Com"pro*mise\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compromised; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Compromising.] [From Compromise, n.; cf.
   Compromit.]
   1. To bind by mutual agreement; to agree. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Laban and himself were compromised
            That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied
            Should fall as Jacob's hire.          --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound.
      [1913 Webster]

            The controversy may easily be compromised. --Fuller.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To pledge by some act or declaration; to endanger the
      life, reputation, etc., of, by some act which can not be
      recalled; to expose to suspicion.
      [1913 Webster]

            To pardon all who had been compromised in the late
            disturbances.                         --Motley.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Compromise \Com"pro*mise\, n. [F. compromis, fr. L. compromissum
   a mutual promise to abide by the decision of an arbiter, fr.
   compromittere to make such a promise; com- + promittere to
   promise. See Promise.]
   1. A mutual agreement to refer matters in dispute to the
      decision of arbitrators. [Obs.] --Burrill.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A settlement by arbitration or by mutual consent reached
      by concession on both sides; a reciprocal abatement of
      extreme demands or rights, resulting in an agreement.
      [1913 Webster]

            But basely yielded upon compromise
            That which his noble ancestors achieved with blows.
                                                  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            All government, indeed every human benefit and
            enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is
            founded on compromise and barter.     --Burke.
      [1913 Webster]

            An abhorrence of concession and compromise is a
            never failing characteristic of religious factions.
                                                  --Hallam.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a
      prejudicial concession; a surrender; as, a compromise of
      character or right.
      [1913 Webster]

            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.                                 --Lamb.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Compromise \Com"pro*mise\, v. i.
   1. To agree; to accord. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To make concession for conciliation and peace.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

compromise
    n 1: a middle way between two extremes [syn: compromise, via
         media]
    2: an accommodation in which both sides make concessions; "the
       newly elected congressmen rejected a compromise because they
       considered it `business as usual'"
    v 1: make a compromise; arrive at a compromise; "nobody will get
         everything he wants; we all must compromise"
    2: settle by concession
    3: expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute;
       "The nuclear secrets of the state were compromised by the
       spy"

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

158 Moby Thesaurus words for "compromise":
   Eisenhower Doctrine, Monroe Doctrine, Nixon Doctrine,
   Truman Doctrine, accommodate, accommodation, adjust, adjustment,
   agreement, amends, appeasement, arrange matters, arrangement,
   atonement, balance of power, bargain, blast, blight,
   bring to terms, bring together, brinkmanship, center, coexistence,
   colonialism, compact, compensation, compose, composition,
   composition of differences, compound, containment, contract, cool,
   cop out, detente, deterrence, diplomacy, diplomatic, diplomatics,
   dollar diplomacy, dollar imperialism, duck responsibility,
   encounter danger, endanger, evade responsibility, expansionism,
   expiation, expiatory offering, expose, fence, fix up,
   foreign affairs, foreign policy, gamble, gamble with,
   give and take, give way, go fifty-fifty, golden mean,
   good-neighbor policy, half measures, half-and-half measures,
   halfway measures, happy medium, harmonize, hazard, heal the breach,
   imperialism, imperil, incur danger, indemnification, indemnity,
   internationalism, isolationism, jeopard, jeopardize, jeopardy,
   lay open, make a deal, make an adjustment, make concessions,
   making amends, making good, making right, making up,
   manifest destiny, mar, mean, mediate, medium, meet halfway, menace,
   middle course, middle ground, middle way, militarism, moderateness,
   moderation, nationalism, neocolonialism, neutral ground,
   neutralism, nonresistance, open door, open-door policy, pact,
   patch things up, peace offensive, peace offering,
   peaceful coexistence, peril, piaculum, play havoc with,
   play politics, preparedness, propitiation, put in danger,
   put in jeopardy, put in tune, queer, quittance, reach a compromise,
   reclamation, recompense, reconcile, redemption, redress,
   reparation, resolution, resolve, restitution, restore harmony,
   reunite, risk, ruin, satisfaction, settle, settle differences,
   settlement, shirt-sleeve diplomacy, shuttle diplomacy,
   smooth it over, spheres of influence, split the difference, spoil,
   squaring, strike a balance, strike a bargain, surrender,
   take the mean, terms, the big stick, tough policy, understanding,
   via media, weave peace between, world politics, yield



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

COMPROMISE, contracts. An agreement between two or more persons, who, to
avoid a lawsuit, amicably settle their differences, on such terms as they
can agree upon. Vide Com. Dig. App. tit. Compromise.
     2. It will be proper to consider, 1. by whom the compromise must be
made; 2. its form; 3. the subject of the compromise; 4. its effects.
     3. It must be made by a person having a right and capacity to enter
into the contract, and carry out his part of it, or by one having lawful
authority from such person.
     4. The compromise may be by parol or in writing, and the writing may be
under seal or not: though as a general rule a partner cannot bind his
copartner by deed, unless expressly authorized, yet it would seem that a
compromise with the principal is an act which a partner may do in behalf of
his copartners, and that, though under seal, it would conclude the firm. 2
Swanst. 539.
     5. The compromise may relate to a civil claim, either as a matter of
contract, or for a tort, but it must be of something uncertain; for if the
debt be certain and undisputed, a payment of a part will not, of itself,
discharge the whole. A claim connected with a criminal charge cannot be
compromised. 1 Chit. Pr. 17. See Nev. & Man. 275.
     6. The compromise puts an end to the suit, if it be proceeding, and
bars any Suit which may afterwards be instituted. It has the effect of res
judicata. 1 Bouv. Inst. n. 798-9.
     7. In the civil law, a compromise is an agreement between two or more
persons, who, wishing to settle their disputes, refer the matter, in
controversy to arbitrators, who are so called because those who choose them
give them full powers to arbitrate and decide what shall appear just and
reasonable, to put an end -to the differences of which they are made the
judges. 1 Domat, Lois Civ. lib. h.t. 14. Vide Submission; Ch. Pr. Index, h.t.




The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

COMPROMISE, 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.