Acquiescingly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that reflects a yielding attitude towards demands or requests, indicating a lack of opposition or resistance to circumstances
2. Done with a sense of compliance that suggests a reluctant but agreeable attitude towards what is being asked or presented
3. In a fashion characterized by an unwilling agreement or acceptance, revealing a disposition to give in without substantial protest or challenge

Etymology: "Acquiescingly" is simply the adverb formed by adding the suffix "-ly" to "acquiescing," the present participle of "acquiesce." Adverbs in "-ly" are built this way from adjectives, but here the base is a verb form, so the sense of the result follows directly from the verb: to acquiesce is to accept or go along with something, typically without objecting. The root verb is "acquiesce," which comes from Latin "acquiescere," meaning to rest, find rest in, or be quiet, formed from "ad-" (to) and "quiescere" (to rest). The Latin image of settling into rest carries over into English: a person who acquiesces has stopped resisting and let the matter lie. Adding "-ly" to the participle yields a manner word describing how someone agrees, namely in a way that gives in without a fight.

Synonyms: submissively, compliantly

Antonyms: defiantly, resistantly