capitulation
capitulation Lexical Profile
capitulation Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The action of ceasing to resist an opponent, demand, or unwelcome pressure; an act of yielding or surrendering.
"The board's sudden capitulation to the shareholders' demands surprised industry analysts."
A formal document, treaty, or set of terms containing the conditions of a surrender or agreement.
"The envoys met in the neutral city to draft and sign the formal capitulation."
• Rhymes for capitulation
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin capitulationem, meaning 'the drawing up of terms under headings,' from capitulare ('to arrange in chapters or headings'), derived from Latin capitulum ('little head' or 'chapter'), a diminutive of caput ('head'). Because surrendering forces historically negotiated agreements arranged under numbered headings, the word shifted from meaning 'a treaty of terms' to 'the act of surrendering.'