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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

with·stand       (wĭth-stānd', wĭth-)  Pronunciation Key  v.   with·stood (-stŏŏd'), with·stand·ing, with·stands v.   tr. To oppose with force or resolution. To be successful in resisting. See Synonyms at oppose. v.   intr. To resist or endure successfully. [Middle English withstanden, from Old English withstandan : with, against; see with + standan, to stand; see stand.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
withstand 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

withstand
verb
1.	resist or confront with resistance; "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held" [syn: defy]
2.	stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something [syn: resist] [ant: give up]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Withstand

With\, prep. [OE. with, AS. wi? with, against; akin to AS. wi?er against, OFries. with, OS. wi?, wi?ar, D. weder, we[^e]r (in comp.), G. wider against, wieder gain, OHG. widar again, against, Icel. vi? against, with, by, at, Sw. vid at, by, Dan. ved, Goth. wipra against, Skr. vi asunder. Cf. Withdraw, Withers, Withstand.] With denotes or expresses some situation or relation of nearness, proximity, association, connection, or the like. It is used especially:

1. To denote a close or direct relation of opposition or hostility; -- equivalent to against.

Thy servant will . . . fight with this Philistine. --1 Sam. xvii. 32.

Note: In this sense, common in Old English, it is now obsolete except in a few compounds; as, withhold; withstand; and after the verbs fight, contend, struggle, and the like.

2. To denote association in respect of situation or environment; hence, among; in the company of.

I will buy with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. --Shak.

Pity your own, or pity our estate, Nor twist our fortunes with your sinking fate. --Dryden.

See where on earth the flowery glories lie; With her they flourished, and with her they die. --Pope.

There is no living with thee nor without thee. --Tatler.

Such arguments had invincible force with those pagan philosophers. --Addison.

3. To denote a connection of friendship, support, alliance, assistance, countenance, etc.; hence, on the side of.

Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee. --Gen. xxvi. 24.

4. To denote the accomplishment of cause, means, instrument, etc; -- sometimes equivalent to by.

That with these fowls I be all to-rent. --Chaucer.

Thou wilt be like a lover presently, And tire the hearer with a book of words. --Shak.

[He] entertained a coffeehouse with the following narrative. --Addison.

With receiving your friends within and amusing them without, you lead a good, pleasant, bustling life of it. --Goldsmith.

5. To denote association in thought, as for comparison or contrast.

Can blazing carbuncles with her compare. --Sandys.

6. To denote simultaneous happening, or immediate succession or consequence.

With that she told me . . . that she would hide no truth from me. --Sir P. Sidney.

With her they flourished, and with her they die. --Pope.

With this he pointed to his face. --Dryden.

7. To denote having as a possession or an appendage; as, the firmament with its stars; a bride with a large fortune. "A maid with clean hands." --Shak.

Note: With and by are closely allied in many of their uses, and it is not easy to lay down a rule by which to distinguish their uses. See the Note under By.