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withstand

 - 3 dictionary results

with⋅stand

  [with-stand, with-] verb, -stood, -stand⋅ing.
Use withstand in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to stand or hold out against; resist or oppose, esp. successfully: to withstand rust; to withstand the invaders; to withstand temptation.
–verb (used without object)
2. to stand in opposition; resist.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME withstanden, OE withstandan (see with-, stand ); c. ON vithstanda; akin to G widerstehen

Related forms:
with⋅stand⋅er, noun
with⋅stand⋅ing⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. confront, face. See oppose.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To withstand
with·stand   (wĭth-stānd', wĭth-)   
v.   with·stood (-stŏŏd'), with·stand·ing, with·stands

v.   tr.

  1. To oppose with force or resolution.

  2. 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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

withstand 
O.E. wiðstandan, from wið "against" (see with) + standan "to stand" (see stand (v.)); perhaps a loan-translation of L. resistere "to resist." Cf. O.N. viðstanda, O.Fris. withstonda, O.H.G. widarstan.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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