capitulation
(kəˌpɪtjuːˈleɪʃən)
[a. F. capitulation, ad. med.L. capitulātiōn-em, n. of action f. capitulāre to draw up under heads.]
The action of the verb capitulate.
† 1. The action of arranging in chapters or heads; a portion of a work so arranged. Obs.
| 1613 R. C. Table Alph. (ed. 3) Capitulation, distinguishing by parts, bringing to hands [? heads]. |
2. A statement of the heads of a subject; summation, summary, enumeration; cf. recapitulation.
| 1579 Fenton Guicciard. i. (1599) 15 This is the capitulation and summe of them [the conditions of a convention]. 1638 Heywood Port Piety 264, I should but spend paper in a meere capitulation of their names. 1882 Stevenson Men & Bks. 124 Capitulation is not description. |
† 3. The making of terms, or of a bargain or agreement; stipulation. Obs.
| 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie (Arb.) 298 In conuersation simple, in capitulation subtill and mistrustfull. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. vi. (1843) 347/2 1721 Strype Eccl. Mem. I. i. xii. 103 Appointing by capitulation what the pope should do. |
† b. pl. Articles or terms of a treaty, stipulations, covenants, conditions. Obs.
| 1580 North Plutarch (1676) 377 The capitulations which the Ephori sent unto him, were these. 1667 Treaty in Magens Insurances II. 530 The Kings of Great Britain and Spain shall..keep..all and singular the Capitulations in this present Treaty agreed. 1721 Strype Eccl. Mem. II. i. xxvii. 221 Soldiers..had been paid for their service..according to their capitulations. 1728 Morgan Hist. Algiers II. iv. 285 The Capitulations between his Imperial Majesty and his new Ally. |
† c. An agreement on specified terms, a covenant, convention, treaty. Obs.
| 1535 Gardiner in Strype Eccl. Mem. I. ii. lxv. 161 In case.. any of them should swerve from any piece of the capitulation by force of the emperor. 1642 Bridge Wound. Consc. Cured §4. 29 Then the Doctor comes to the matter of capitulation or covenant. 1691 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 212 The French at Mons had already broke their capitulation with the burghers. 1798 Dallas Amer. Law Rep. II. 459 The rights which descended to him in consequence of his father's original capitulation. 1843 Prescott Mexico vii. iv. (1864) 444 The terms of his [Columbus] original ‘capitulation’ with the crown. |
d. spec. (a) The agreement or conditions sworn to by the former German emperors at their election. (b) The agreements made by the Swiss cantons with foreign powers respecting the regiments of Swiss who took service under them. (c) The articles by which the Porte gave special immunities and privileges to French subjects; extended subsequently to those of other nations.
| 1622 Prot. Princes in Rushw. Hist. Coll. I. 74 As was agreed upon in the Capitulation Royal, and Fundamental Law of the Empire. 1756 Nugent Gr. Tour II. 26 Every Emperor is tied down at his coronation to some new articles, which are called terms of capitulation. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. II. 472 European merchants live here in..splendour and safety..owing to particular capitulations with the Porte. 1863 Kinglake Crimea (1876) I. viii. 116. 1872 Freeman Growth Eng. Const. 209 The system of military capitulations..by the Cantons. 1884 Twiss Law Nations I. 463 It may be doubted whether the term ‘Capitulations’ came into use before the Treaty of 1535 between France and the Porte. |
4. The making of terms for surrender; the action of surrendering to an enemy upon stipulated terms.
| 1650 Cromwell Let. 18 Dec. (Carlyle) The gentlemen you desire..to treat and conclude of the capitulation. 1769 Robertson Chas. V, V. iv. 407 Clement..was soon obliged to demand a capitulation. 1876 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. I. i. i. 17 In Greece to offer earth and water was the sign of capitulation. Mod. The capitulation of Metz. |
b. The instrument containing the terms.
| 1793 Ld. Auckland Corr. III. 9, I..enclose the capitulations of Breda and Gertruydenberg. 1849–50 Alison Hist. Europe VIII. lv. §34. 590 At daybreak the capitulation was signed. |