resist

Resist is defined as to fend off, oppose or work against.

(verb)

An example of to resist is someone running away from the police to avoid being arrested.

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See resist in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

  1. to withstand; oppose; fend off; stand firm against; withstand the action of
    1. to oppose actively; fight, argue, or work against
    2. to refuse to cooperate with, submit to, etc.: to resist conscription
  2. to keep from yielding to, being affected by, or enjoying: to resist temptation

Origin: ME resisten < MFr resister < L resistere < re-, back + sistere, to set, caus. of stare, to stand

intransitive verb

to oppose or withstand something; offer resistance

noun

a substance that resists, esp. something applied as a protective coating

Related Forms:

See resist in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb re·sist·ed, re·sist·ing, re·sists
verb, transitive
  1. To strive to fend off or offset the actions, effects, or force of.
  2. To remain firm against the actions, effects, or force of; withstand: a bacterium that resisted the antibiotic.
  3. To keep from giving in to or enjoying.
verb, intransitive
To offer resistance. See Synonyms at oppose.
noun
A substance that can cover and protect a surface, as from corrosion.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English resisten

Origin: , from Old French resister

Origin: , from Latin resistere

Origin: : re-, re-

Origin: + sistere, to place; see stā- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • re·sistˈer noun

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