verb
capitulate
kuh-PIH-tyuu-layt
verb
1
To stop resisting and agree to the other side's terms; to surrender.
"After weeks of siege, the garrison finally capitulated."
"She capitulated to her children's demands for a later bedtime."
How to Use Capitulate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo give in and accept someone else's terms after resisting.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
capitulate to pressure
refuse to capitulate
Word Forms
more capitulate comparative, capitulated past tense, capitulates singular, most capitulate superlative
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After weeks of siege, the garrison finally _____.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin capitulare ("to draw up under headings, to negotiate terms"), from capitulum ("chapter, heading"), a diminutive of caput ("head").