Capitulate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Capitulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Capitulating.]
Etymology: [LL. capitulatus, p. p. of capitulare to capitulate: cf. F. capituler. See Capitular, n.]
1. To settle or draw up the heads or terms of an agreement, as in chapters or articles; to agree. [Obs.] There capitulates with the king . . . to take to wife his daughter Mary. Heylin. There is no reason why the reducing of any agreement to certain heads or capitula should not be called to capitulate. Trench.
2. To surrender on terms agreed upon (usually, drawn up under several heads); as, an army or a garrison capitulates. The Irish, after holding out a week, capitulated. Macaulay.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Capitulate, v. t.
To surrender or transfer, as an army or a fortress, on certain conditions. [R.]
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for capitulate; he lists it under surrender.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.