compromit

See also: compromît

English

Etymology

Latin compromittere.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɒmpɹəmɪt/

Verb

compromit (third-person singular simple present compromits, present participle compromitting, simple past and past participle compromitted)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To compromise.
   • 1859, John S. C. Abbott, The Empire of Russia‎^[1]:

     The embassador, Alexeief, was authorized to make all proper protestations of friendship, but to be very cautious not to compromit the dignity of his sovereign.

   • 1789, Thomas Jefferson, Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson‎^[2]:

     The President […] was of opinion, that the arming and equipping vessels in the ports of the United States to cruise against nations with whom they are at peace, was incompatible with the territorial sovereignty of the United States; that it made them instrumental to the annoyance of those nations, and thereby tended to compromit their peace […]

2. (obsolete, transitive) To pledge by some act or declaration; to promise.
   • 1751 [1529], articles presented against Cardinal Wolsey, quotee, The Parliamentary Or Constitutional History of England, volume 3, →OCLC, page 49:

     XXIV. Also, the same Lord Cardinal, at many Times when any Houses of Religion have been void, he hath sent his Officers thither, and with crafty Persuasions hath induced them to compromit their Election in him.

French

Pronunciation

• Audio (CAN)

  (file)

Verb

compromit

1. third-person singular past historic of compromettre