v., also 7 aquiess(e, acquiese. [a. MFr. acquiesce-r (16th c. in Littré), f. L. acquiēsc-ĕre; f. ac- = ad- to, at + quiēsc-ĕre to rest.]
† 1. intr. To remain at rest, either physically or mentally; to rest satisfied (in a place or state). Obs.
c. 1620. A. Hume, Orthogr. Brit. Tongue (1865), 9. But as now we sound it in quies and quiesco, the judiciouse ear may discern tuae soundes. But because heer we differ not, I wil acquiess.
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (1869), 88. Being safely returned to his Mother soile, he may very well acquiesse in her lap.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., Wks. I. I. § 9. 136. We were not made to acquiesce in life and health.
1788. Priestley, Lect. on Hist., V. li. 386. No situation—in which he can entirely acquiesce, so as to look out for no farther improvements.
† b. To acquiesce from: To rest, or cease from. Obs. rare.
1659. Lestrange, Alliance Div. Off. (1846), 12. I resolved totally to acquiesce from such contests.
† c. To acquiesce under: To remain in quiet subjection, to submit quietly, to remain submissive. Obs.
1680. in Somers’s Tracts, II. 90. For if he be innocent, and that the Right of Succession be his, all Men will quietly acquiesce under him.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, IX. vii. (1840), 137/2. Our readers may not so easily acquiesce under the same ignorance.
1771. Junius Lett., xliv. 236. Privilege of parliament … has hitherto been acquiesced under.
1781. T. Jefferson, Corr., Wks. 1859, I. 310. [It may] lead the minds of the people to acquiesce under those events which they see no human power prepared to ward off.
2. To agree tacitly to, concur in; to accept (the conclusions or arrangements of others).
1651. Hobbes, Leviathan, I. vii. 32. Our Beleefe … is in the Church; whose word we take, and acquiesce therein.
1672. Marvell, Rehearsal Transp., I. 52. You are bound to acquiesce in his judgment, whatsoever may be your private Opinion.
1690. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 21. The said citty acquiesced, and wrote a submissive letter to the king.
1781. Cowper, Lett., 4 Oct., Wks. 1876, 85. I perfectly acquiesce in the propriety of sending Johnson a copy of my productions.
1831. Scott, F. M. Perth, xi. (1874), 115. Douglas seemed to acquiesce in the necessity of patience for the time.
1877. Mozley, Univ. Serm., iv. 76. They speak with an air of men whose claims have been acquiesced in by others.
† b. Const. to, with. Obs.
1651. Hobbes, Gov. & Soc., xi. § 6. 171. We must acquiese to their sayings, whom we have truly constituted to be Kings over us.
1685. Lady R. Russell, Lett., 24. I. 64. The great thing is to acquiesce with all one’s heart to the good pleasure of God.
1703. De Foe, Shortest way to Peace, in Miscell., I. 465. If they acquiesce with a Church of England Government.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), V. 33. Clarissa had a double inducement for acquiescing with the proposed method.
1879. G. Meredith, Egoist, xxviii. She acquiesced to his observation: ‘An anticipatory story is a trap to the teller.’
† 3. trans. To bring to rest; to appease, satisfy or harmonize. Obs.
1658–9. Lockyer, in Burton, Diary (1628), IV. 114. This union did most acquiesce all interests.
