capitulate

Definition

To cease resisting an opponent or an unwelcome demand; to surrender or give in to terms.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'capitulum', meaning 'little head' or 'chapter', it originally referred to terms of surrender drawn up in chapters or articles. It entered English in the 16th century via French to describe the act of surrendering under formal agreements.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the risk that nations or geopolitical actors might yield under pressure rather than maintaining long-term defensive stances. It highlights the danger of assuming conflicts will be short, which may tempt leaders to capitulate prematurely.

Ukraine, Iran, Taiwan, and the Short War Illusion

Lawfare

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