Past tense of compromise; weakened, impaired, or made vulnerable, especially in security contexts.
From Latin 'compromissus,' past participle of 'compromittere' meaning 'to make a mutual promise.' Originally referred to settling disputes by mutual agreement, but evolved to include the sense of being weakened or exposed.
The evolution of 'compromised' from meaning 'mutually agreed upon' to 'weakened or vulnerable' reflects a fascinating linguistic shift - what once implied collaborative solution-finding now often suggests damage or exposure. In cybersecurity, a 'compromised' system has been breached, showing how the word has adapted to our digital age fears.
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