Concede

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /kənˈsiːd/

Definitions

1. To admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it, often reluctantly
2. To acknowledge as true or grant as valid, especially in a debate or competition, while accepting defeat or loss on a particular point
3. To acknowledge or accept that something is correct or valid, usually after initial denial or opposition ; to formally grant or yield a right, claim, or point to another, often conceding defeat or loss

Etymology: The core idea of "concede" is physical yielding. Its Latin ancestor, "concēdō," combined "con-", meaning wholly or thoroughly, with "cēdō", meaning to yield, give way, or go. A soldier who gave ground or a town that surrendered was, in this sense, yielding completely. Latin also used the verb for granting a favour, which is how the sense of giving something up to another person developed. The word reached English through Old French "conceder." Its modern meaning of admitting something is true grew out of that older idea of yielding: to concede a point is to give ground in an argument rather than to hand over territory. The word is one of many English verbs built on the same "cēdō" root, which also gave us words such as "cede" and "recede," all carrying the sense of moving away or giving way.

Synonyms: acknowledge, admit, grant, yield, surrender

Antonyms: deny, refuse, withhold, dispute, challenge