compromising possession

孫と遊ぶのに忙しくブログの更新ができませんでした。
さて、George OrwellのHomage to Cataloniaを読み終わったので、今度は同じ著者の小説1984を読み始めました。
He had given a quick glance up and down the street and then had slipped inside and bought the book for two dollars fifty. At the time he was not conscious of wanting it for any particular purpose. He had
carried it guiltily home in his briefcase. Even with nothing written in it, it was a compromising possession.
"compromise" の言葉からは妥協しか思いつかないのですが、本を買って所有していることが "compromise" とはどんな意味でしょう。
・Oxford English Dictionary: (of information or a situation) revealing an embarrassing or incriminating secret about someone.: to cover up compromising evidence of malpractice

・Collins Dictionary: (of information or a situation) revealing an embarrassing or incriminating secret about someone.: to cover up compromising evidence of malpractice

・Cambridge English Dictionary: causing damage to the reputation of someone, especially making known that they have had a sexual relationship with someone who is considered unsuitable: Photographs were published of her in a compromising position/situation with her bodyguard.
なるほど、政治や有名人だけではなく最近では大手の企業でも隠して置いた悪行が次々と明らかになってきていますが、こういう場合に使える単語ですね。
しかしながら、弁舌さわやかな政治家達は "compromising evidence" が出てきても、ごまかしますね。特に大物は。凡人には真似は出来ないにしても、少なくとも騙されたくはないですね。