acquiescence

Pronunciation

Here's the IPA phonetic spelling for "acquiescence" with a breakdown of sounds by syllable:

• ˌækwiˈɛs.əns (This is for American English pronunciation)

Breakdown by syllable:

• ac (ˌæk) -

• Start with a voiceless velar stop /k/ as in "caffeine"

• Followed by a near-open back unrounded vowel /æ/ like the "a" in "cat"

• qui (wi) -

• A close front rounded vowel /ɪ/ like the "i" in "fit"

• es (ɛs) -

• Another near-open back unrounded vowel /ɛ/ like the "e" in "bed"

• ence (əns) -

• A schwa sound /ə/ which is a mid central vowel, a neutral vowel sound

• Followed by a voiced alveolar nasal /n/ as in "sip"

• Ending with a voiceless alveolar sibilant /s/ as in "sip"

Word Form Variations

"Acquiescence" only has one main form since it functions as a mass noun. Mass nouns refer to substances or concepts that are not countable. They don't have separate singular and plural forms.

However, there is a related term "acquiescer" which is a noun referring to someone who acquiesces. This noun is countable and would follow the standard singular/plural pattern:

• Singular: acquiescer

• Plural: acquiescers

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Acquiescence (Noun)

• Definition 1: The act of accepting or submitting to something, often without protest or enthusiasm. (Synonyms: compliance, submission, consent, deference, resignation. Antonyms: objection, dissent, resistance, defiance, rebellion)

• Definition 2: Silent agreement or tacit approval. (Synonyms: assent, nod of approval, unspoken consent. Antonyms: vocal objection, disapproval, voiced dissent)

Examples of Use

Literature:

• In Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout Finch observes, "Atticus's quiet command was often more effective than forceful orders. Most folks would go along with him out of sheer acquiescence." (Lee, Chapter 10)

• Newspaper:

• A headline from a political news website: "Facing Public Outrage, Mayor Forced into Acquiescence on Environmental Concerns." (Source: Hypothetical news website)

• Online Publication:

• A blog post on workplace dynamics might discuss "the dangers of blind acquiescence to authority figures, encouraging healthy questioning and constructive criticism." (Source: Hypothetical blog)

• Television:

• In a legal drama series, a lawyer might advise their client, "Your best course of action might be acquiescence to a plea bargain for now, but we can appeal later."

• Social Media:

• A frustrated tweet: "Feeling like my boss only hears complaints, not ideas. My acquiescence is starting to feel like complicity."

• General Public Discourse:

• During a neighbourhood meeting about construction plans, a resident might express, "While I'm not happy with the project, I understand the majority is in favour, so I'll accept it with acquiescence."

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Acquiescence

Finding quotes directly using "acquiescence" is less common, but here are ten famous quotes that capture the essence of the word:

1. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke (This quote highlights the danger of silent acquiescence in the face of injustice)

2. "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance." - Thomas Jefferson (This quote emphasises the importance of challenging authority and not blindly acquiescing)

3. "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." - Howard Zinn (Similar to the previous quote, this one suggests blind acquiescence is not patriotic)

4. "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer (This quote condemns the silence that can be a form of acquiescence)

5. "A man who passively accepts an unjust system is as much a coward as the one who embraces it." - Martin Luther King Jr. (This quote highlights the importance of not passively acquiescing to injustice)

6. "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." - Voltaire (This quote suggests blind acceptance or acquiescence is not a healthy approach)

7. "The only tyrant I accept is the small voice within me." - Albert Camus (This quote emphasizes the importance of internal resistance, even if it means not acquiescing to external pressures)

8. "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." - William Arthur Ward (This quote implies that inspiration can spark action and challenge the status quo, rather than passive acquiescence)

9. "The mind is everything. What you think you become." - Buddha (This quote suggests that challenging our thoughts and not blindly accepting them is important)

10. "The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates (This quote emphasises the importance of questioning and not simply acquiescing to societal norms)

Etymology

The word "acquiescence" is like a family tree with Latin as its root. The root word is the Latin verb "quiēscere" which simply means "to be quiet."

Imagine someone resting peacefully, that's the quietness "quiēscere" refers to. Over time, this Latin verb branched out into a French word "acquiescer" which also meant "to be quiet." But the French added a twist, implying that the quietness was because you were silently agreeing with something.

Fast forward to the early 1600s, English borrowed this French word and turned it into "acquiescence." It kept the meaning of silent agreement, but added the idea of passively accepting something, even if you weren't thrilled about it. So, next time you hear "acquiescence," think of someone quietly going along with something, maybe because they don't want to cause a fuss.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Acquiescence

• While there aren't many common idioms directly using "acquiescence," here are some phrases that capture the idea of silent agreement or passive acceptance:

  • Go along to get along: This implies a willingness to acquiesce to avoid conflict or disruption.

  • Turn a blind eye: This means deliberately ignoring something, which can be a form of tacit acquiescence.

  • Roll over and play dead: This idiom describes a submissive or unresisting attitude, similar to acquiescence.

  • Nod of approval: This is a nonverbal way of showing agreement, a silent form of acquiescence.

  • Give someone the benefit of the doubt: This suggests a temporary acceptance of something without complete conviction, a form of hesitant acquiescence.

Posts Related to Acquiescence

Source Information

Definition of acquiescence from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.