capitulate

[kuh-pich-uh-leyt]

verb (used without object)

capitulated, capitulating 

1. to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms.

   When he saw the extent of the forces arrayed against him, the king capitulated, and signed their list of demands.

2. to give up resistance.

   He finally capitulated and agreed to do the job my way.

   Synonyms: accede, acquiesce, yield

capitulate

/ kəˈpɪtjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. (intr) to surrender, esp under agreed conditions

Other Word Forms

• capitulator noun
• capitulant noun
• uncapitulated adjective
• uncapitulating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of capitulate¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Medieval Latin capitulātus (past participle of capitulāre “to draw up in sections”), equivalent to capitul(um) “section,” literally, “small head” + -ātus ; capitulum, chapter ( def. ), -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of capitulate¹

C16 (meaning: to arrange under heads, draw up in order; hence, to make terms of surrender): from Medieval Latin capitulare to draw up under heads, from capitulum _chapter

Example Sentences

The discussions with officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, the countries with which Hamas has the closest ties, show the challenge in implementing a plan that requires the group to capitulate.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Netanyahu drew a hard line in the talks, demanding Hamas capitulate and shifting his focus to resolving the conflict through military action rather than diplomacy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The app's creator said such claims were "patently false" and accused Apple of "capitulating to an authoritarian regime."

Read more on BBC

Scheiring observed “a key underlying story is that media owners, both foreign and domestic, largely capitulated individually rather than mounting collective resistance, which enabled Orbán’s systematic capture strategy.”

Read more on Salon

"So a company apparently capitulating to the whims of the president in order to ensure their merger goes through - has that ever happened before?"

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bow 
• cave in 
• cede 
• concede 
• defer 
• relent 
• succumb 
• surrender