Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ACQUIESCE

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"ACQUIESCE" Meaning: When you acquiesce, you just go ahead and accept something (or do something) even though you might not really want to. Pronunciation: ack we ESS Part of speech: Intransitive verb. (Like “sleep,” “skydive,” and “succeed,” all intransitive verbs show complete action on their own and do not do action to an object. You sleep, you skydive, you succeed, and that’s it. You don’t “sleep a bed,” “skydive a plane,” or “succeed a plan”. Likewise, someone acquiesces.) Other forms: acquiescent, acquiescently, acquiescence, acquiesced, acquiescing How to use it: You generally acquiesce to neutral or bad behaviors, requests, and activities, as the examples below will show. Although you can just plain acquiesce, you can also acquiesce to something, acquiesce in something, or acquiesce with something: "We wanted her to play the piano, and she acquiesced." "He never thinks for himself but always acquiesces to her judgment."  "She'd acquiesced in the cheating scheme and ended up in just as much trouble as the others." "At first, we acquiesced with their requests." They keep hinting that I should just write the essays for their kid instead of helping him learn how to do it, but that's something I'll never acquiesce to. The whole department came under scrutiny for acquiescing again and again in employee theft. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "acquiesce" means when you can explain it without saying "give in" or "comply." Think of a time you gave in or decided to quit fighting about something, and fill in the blanks: "After (a certain amount of time) opposing it, I finally acquiesced to _____."  Example: "After years and years of opposing it, I finally acquiesced to the use of 'they,' 'them,' and 'their' to refer to singular subjects of unknown gender." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: This month, we're playing with some fascinating thematic word lists assembled by Stephen Chrisomalis, an English language expert over at The Phrontistery who kindly gave permission for me to use his work. (Check out his site; you will definitely enjoy it!) Try a question each day, and see the right answers here the following day--or if you can't wait, follow the link to Stephen's list to dig out the answers yourself. Have fun! Yesterday's question: There are at least 100 different styles of dancing, according to Stephen's list. Can you tell the difference between the shag, the shimmy, and the shuffle? Fit those words into their correct definitions: - A dance featuring sliding or scraping of the feet is a _____. - A dance where participants hop energetically is a _____. - A jazz dance featuring rapid shaking of the body is a _____. Answers: - A dance featuring sliding or scraping of the feet is a shuffle. - A dance where participants hop energetically is a shag. - A jazz dance featuring rapid shaking of the body is a shimmy. Try this one today: Stephen lists hundreds of words for different types of fabric and cloth, from "alpaca" to "muslin" to "zibeline." But he points out that almost all of those hundred varieties are simply "variants or blends of just five basic fabric types." What are those five basic types? They're s_____, c_____, l____, w___ and w______. Can't wait until tomorrow for the right answers? Check out Stephen's full list and discussion at the Phrontistery. A Point Well Made: Bob Black: “If your language lacks poetry and paradox, it’s unequal to the task of accounting for actuality. Otherwise anything radically new is literally unspeakable.” 1. The opposite of ACQUIESCE is A. RESPOND B. REVIVE C. RESIST 2. Does your kitty _____ or acquiesce? A. meow at your door when it's mealtime B. squirm away when you try to snuggle her C. use her litter box consistently Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. B Exploring the archives: You can see why "acquiesce" looks like "quiet:" when you acquiesce, you quietly go along with whatever, as if you either don't care or don't want to make a fuss. Could you recall another word we've looked at that also looks like "quiet"? It means inactive, quiet, and still, especially for a period of time and not just a brief moment.