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This was originally written on January 22, 2009. I repost it today for the Spin Cycle.


As defined by the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary :

1com·pro·mise

Pronunciation:

\ˈkäm-prə-ˌmīz\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, mutual promise to abide by an arbiter's decision, from Anglo-French compromisse, from Latin compromissum, from neuter of compromissus, past participle ofcompromittere to promise mutually, from com- + promittere to promise — more at promise

Date:

15th century

1 a: settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions b:something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things
If I remember my history classes correctly, those documents that we claim to hold so dear- the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, even the Declaration of Independence- were written after much compromise.