com-

with, together; sometimes thoroughly

Forms

com-
con- — Used before many consonants in Latin.
col- — Used before l in Latin.
cor- — Used before r in Latin.
co- — Shortened especially before vowels.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *kom, ‘with; beside.’

Note

In some formations, togetherness shades into completeness; the prefix’s exact contribution can be uncertain.

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noun / verb

compromise

KAHM-pruh-myze/ˈkɑːmprəmaɪz/

An agreement reached by each side giving up something.

The negotiators reach a compromise by dividing the loaf equally.

Two negotiators share a round loaf divided evenly between them, shaking hands across table; each has accepted half.

Etymology

comLatinwith, together; sometimes thoroughly

+proLatinbefore, forward; on behalf of

+miseLatinsend, let go, release

“Before” and “send” combine in the ancestor meaning “promise”; “together” makes this a mutual pledge to accept an arbiter’s decision. The word shifted from that pledge to the settlement itself, reached through mutual concessions.

In context

Miss Erin Doctor0:12

in order for a compromise to work both people get a little of what they want and both people give up

The Art of the Compromise

More examples

They compromise on a price halfway between their original offers.
Our compromise gives you the car today and me tomorrow.
Both sides make compromises to keep the project moving.

Forms

compromise · compromises · compromised · compromising

Similar words

agreement: Broader term; neither side necessarily gives anything up.
settlement: Emphasizes resolving a dispute, not necessarily through mutual concessions.