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surrender definition

sur·ren·der (sə rendər)

transitive verb

  1. to give up possession of or power over; yield to another on demand or compulsion
  2. to give up claim to; give over or yield, esp. voluntarily, as in favor of another
  3. to give up or abandon surrendering all hope
  4. to yield or resign (oneself) to an emotion, influence, etc.

Etymology: ME surrendren < MFr surrendre < sur-, up (see sur-) + rendre, to render

intransitive verb

  1. to give oneself up to another's power or control, esp. as a prisoner
  2. to give in (to) to surrender to temptation

noun

  1. the act of surrendering, yielding, or giving up, over, or in
  2. Insurance the voluntary abandonment of a policy by an insured person in return for a cash payment (surrender value), thus freeing the company of liability

Etymology: LME < MFr surrendre, inf. used as n.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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