succumb
UK: səˈkʌm | US: səˈkʌm
vi. 1. To yield to a superior force or overpowering desire.
vi. 2. To die from the effect of a disease or injury.
The word succumb originates from Latin succumbere, composed of sub- ("under") and -cumbere ("to lie down"). The literal sense was "to lie down beneath a superior force," which evolved metaphorically to mean "yield" or "surrender." By the 17th century, it acquired the specific connotation of dying under the pressure of illness or external threats, reflecting the irreversible nature of submission.
After a long battle, the fortress finally succumbed to the enemy’s siege.
He succumbed to temptation and ate the entire cake.
Many patients succumb to the disease if treatment is delayed.
The old tree succumbed to the strong winds during the storm.
She refused to succumb to despair despite the challenges.