capitulate

views updated Jun 08 2018

ca·pit·u·late / kəˈpichəˌlāt/ • v. [intr.] cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender.DERIVATIVES: ca·pit·u·la·tor / -ˈlātər/ n.ORIGIN: mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘parley, draw up terms’): from French capituler, from medieval Latin capitulare ‘draw up under headings,’ from Latin capitulum, diminutive of caput ‘head.’

capitulate

views updated May 21 2018

capitulate †specify as under heads; †propose terms, make terms about XVI; make terms of surrender XVII. f. pp. of medL. capitulāre draw up under distinct heads, f. capitulum head of a discourse, CHAPTER; see -ATE 3.
So capitulation XVI. — late L.