capitulation

Etymology

From Middle French capitulation; equivalent to capitulate +‎ -tion. Derived from Proto-Indo-European *káput (“head”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

capitulation (countable and uncountable, plural capitulations)

1. A reducing to heads or articles; a formal agreement.
2. The act of capitulating or surrendering to an enemy upon stipulated terms; the act of ceasing to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand.
3. The instrument containing the terms of an agreement or surrender.
4. An enumeration of the main parts of a subject.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin capitulātiōnem. By surface analysis, capituler +‎ -ation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka.pi.ty.la.sjɔ̃/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

capitulation f (plural capitulations)

1. (archaic) treaty, convention; especially a treaty regarding the rights of nationals of one party with respect to the government of the other party
   • 1841, book title

     Capitulations et traités entre la France et la Porte Ottomane

     Treaties and capitulations between France and the Ottoman Porte

   • 1849, François-René de Chateaubriand, Mémoires d'Outre-Tombe‎:

     Il y a use belle capitulation entre Henri IV et Saint-Malo

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. surrender, capitulation (act of capitulating or surrendering to an enemy upon stipulated terms)

   Near-synonym: reddition

Further reading

• “capitulation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.