capitulate

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*kap-
2. Medieval Latin · derived fromcapitulō“(originally; of a book, text) to draw up under distinct headings; (from the 15ᵗʰ c.) to bargain, parley, convene”
3. Medieval Latin · borrowed fromcapitulātus
4. English todaycapitulate

The adjective is first attested in 1528, the verb in 1537; borrowed from Medieval Latin capitulātus perfect passive participle of Medieval Latin capitulō (“(originally; of a book, text) to draw up under distinct headings; (from the 15ᵗʰ c.) to bargain, parley, convene”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from capitulum (“heading, chapter, title”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix), diminutive of caput (“head”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-. Common participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from the end of the 17ᵗʰ c. To surrender on stipulated terms, end all resistance, give up, go along with or comply.