Capitulate

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /kəˈpɪ.tjÊŠ.leɪt/, /kəˈpɪ.tʃə.leɪt/
• US IPA: /kəˈpɪtʃ.jÊŠ.leɪt/, /kəˈpɪtʃ.jÉ™.leɪt/

Origin

From the participle stem of Medieval Latin capitulare ("draw up under headings"), from Latin capitulum ("heading, chapter, title"), diminutive of caput ("head").

Full definition of capitulate

Verb

1. (obsolete) To draw up in chapters; to enumerate.
2. (obsolete) To draw up the articles of treaty with; to treat, bargain, parley.
• Heylinthere capitulates with the king ... to take to wife his daughter Mary
3. To surrender; to end all resistance, to give up; to go along with or comply.He argued and hollered for so long that I finally capitulated just to make him stop.
• MacaulayThe Irish, after holding out a week, capitulated.

Synonyms

• (surrender, end resistance, give up) wave the white flag

Related terms