What is compromise?

What is it to compromise?  We are told it is the cornerstone of successful relationships - romantic, friendship, with colleagues.  To find a common ground, meet each other half way, give a little to get a little, concede something to get something, sacrifice to make it work.  It requires considering the needs and wants of others.  It requires working with another to come to an agreement.  It all seems logical and reasonable.  It sounds wise.  It means everyone will be happy.  Everyone gets something.  Everyone is considerate and understanding.  But is it really this ideal?  Should we always look to compromise?  Is there a time when we can, and should, reject the compromise and want it all for ourselves?  Maybe compromise isn't all it's supposed to be - the way to resolve conflict and 'make everyone happy.'  Maybe sometimes it's better to get it all.  I am avoiding labelling it 'selfish' as I don't believe that wanting it all, or rejecting compromise, is necessarily a  selfish act (and it is such a term women unfortunately label themselves when they think about themselves first). 
I believe that often there are people who are always the one to compromise.  This may seem unlikely, given the definition requires 'meeting in the middle', but there are people who seem to do the 'meeting' more often than the other.  These people forgo something important to them in order to 'make it work.'  Often this is not an issue.  We are quite often willing to do this as making it work is more important than getting everything we want.  However, in my musings on compromise I am drawn to question the compromise in which someone feels they have to forgo they strongly want or believe in just to 'make it work.'  Those who often sacrifice a value or belief in order to avoid a conflict or please someone else.  This is when compromise becomes a case of losing a part of yourself rather than a positive solution.  And while in the short term the compromise may seem the right decision, in the long wrong you are simply compromising who you are and what you really want.  Surely compromise is only successful if both parties are involved - that both are giving up something. 
This doesn't mean, of course, that we should not consider a compromise or that we should always strive only for what we want without any consideration of the other.  Often it is an excellent solution to a conflict.  It is a way to demonstrate an understanding of another and willingness to work with them. 
Maybe if we have to call it a 'compromise' we are already conceding that we are 'giving up' something that matters - and that giving it up actually affects us.  Otherwise we would call it...well, nothing...because it would have made the decision based on wanting the so-called 'compromise.'  We would make the decision simply because it is actually what we want.  Not about what we concede. 
However, I am willing to concede that some may not agree with my musings...I am willing to compromise on my ideas!  Let's meet in the middle...any thoughts?