Word of the Day: CAPITULATE

ca·pit·u·late

verb \kə-ˈpi-chə-ˌlāt\

: to stop fighting an enemy or opponent : to admit that an enemy or opponent has won

: to stop trying to fight or resist something : to agree to do or accept something that you have been resisting or opposing

ca·pit·u·lat·ed  ca·pit·u·lat·ing

Full Definition of CAPITULATE

intransitive verb

1 archaic :  parley, negotiate

2a :  to surrender often after negotiation of terms

 b :  to cease resisting :  acquiesce

Examples of CAPITULATE

1. The country still refuses to capitulate despite its weakening army and dwindling resources.
2. The teacher refused to capitulate: no calculators were to be used during the exam.

Origin of CAPITULATE

Medieval Latin capitulatus, past participle of capitulare to distinguish by heads or chapters, from Late Latin capitulum

First Known Use: 1596

Related to CAPITULATE

Synonyms

blink, bow, budge, yield, concede, give in, knuckle under, quit, relent, submit, succumb, surrender

Antonyms

resist