Compromettendone

Compromettendone is a non‑standard Italian word that appears as a combination of the verb “compromettere” (to compromise, undermine, or put at risk) and the enclitic pronoun “ne”, forming a compound that can be interpreted as “compromising it” or “endangering it” in a more informal or colloquial manner. The suffix “‑endone” is not a standard Italian morphological ending; it is likely a blend of the gerund form “compromettendo” with the pronoun “ne” to create a colloquial contraction. Because of its construction, it is rarely found in formal written Italian but can surface in casual spoken contexts or in certain regional dialects where people slide words together for brevity.

Etymologically, the base verb “compromettere” comes from Latin “compromittere”, meaning “to let together, to pledge”. The Italian gerund form is “compromettendo”, which describes an ongoing action. Adding “ne” is a common way in Italian to refer back to a previously mentioned noun, so “compromettendone” literally refers to the act of compromising whatever noun was previously referenced. This form is sometimes employed in informal conversation to speed up speech, but it is not considered standard by dictionaries such as Garzanti or Treccani.

The word is typically used in contexts where a speaker wants to emphasize that an action has already jeopardised something else. For example, someone might say “Ho già compromettendone i margini”, meaning “I have already compromised the margins”. Because of its informal nature, people should avoid using “compromettendone” in formal writing, academic papers, or official communications. The more acceptable variants are “ho già compromesso i margini” or “ho già compromettuto i margini”.