Victoria Sheinkin
ak-wee-ES
To accept something reluctantly, but without protest.
Origin
Dated back to the 1610’s, this verb stems from the Latin noun quiescere meaning quiet. Later on the ‘ad’ affix was added to create acquiescere (through Middle French acquiesce) which simply meant to become quiet, to remain at rest. The figurative sense of quiet adherence was first recorded 30 years later, in the 1640’s.
Why this word?
I love this word as its meaning lies amidst agreeing to not agreeing, wanting but not really wanting. We take on many things in life for various reasons, with our wishes not always being the core to that agreement.
When I say that I will acquiesce to something, I am stating my agreement with the subject, but I am also saying that I am not really agreeing, that there is another reason for my agreement. It is a great word to know mainly because we do this a lot, and not on too many occasions we allow the other party to know. Using this word, out inner truth is visible, alongside our consent.
How to use acquiesce?
In any occasion in which you are agreeing to something without fully wanting it yourself, this is a great word to use!
“David eventually acquiesced to Dana’s staying in England” or “I know that my mother would acquiesce with us going to the party, even though she thinks the place to be dangerous”.
