Resist

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: re=sist

CIDE DICTIONARY

Resist, v. t. [F. résister, L. resistere, pref. re- re- + sistere to stand, cause to stand, v. causative of stare to stand. See Stand.].

•  To stand against; to withstand; to obstruct.  [1913 Webster]

  "That mortal dint,
  Save He who reigns above, none can resist."  [1913 Webster]
•  To strive against; to endeavor to counteract, defeat, or frustrate; to act in opposition to; to oppose.  [1913 Webster]

  "God resisteth the proud."  [1913 Webster]

  "Contrary to his high will
  Whom we resist."  [1913 Webster]
•  To counteract, as a force, by inertia or reaction.  [1913 Webster]
•  To be distasteful to.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To withstand; oppose; hinder; obstruct; counteract; check; thwart; baffle; disappoint.

Resist, v. i. 

 To make opposition.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

Resist, n. 

•  A substance used to prevent a color or mordant from fixing on those parts to which it has been applied, either by acting machanically in preventing the color, etc., from reaching the cloth, or chemically in changing the color so as to render it incapable of fixing itself in the fibers; -- also called reserve. The pastes prepared for this purpose are called resist pastes.  F. C. Calvert.  [1913 Webster]
•  Something that resists or prevents a certain action;  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Resist, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. withstand the action or effect of; repel.
2 tr. stop the course or progress of; prevent from reaching, penetrating, etc.
3 tr. abstain from (pleasure, temptation, etc.).
4 tr. strive against; try to impede; refuse to comply with (resist arrest).
5 intr. offer opposition; refuse to comply.
--n. a protective coating of a resistant substance, applied esp. to parts of calico that are not to take dye or to parts of pottery that are not to take glaze or lustre.

Idiom

cannot (or could not etc.) resist
1 (foll. by verbal noun) feel obliged or strongly inclined to (cannot resist teasing me about it).
2 is certain to be amused, attracted, etc., by (can't resist children's clothes).

Derivative

resistant adj. resister n. resistible adj. resistibility n.

Etymology

ME f. OF resister or L resistere (as RE-, sistere stop, redupl. of stare stand)

THESAURUS

Resist

antagonize, arrest, assail, assault, attack, baffle, balk, battle, be antipathetic, be at cross-purposes, be inimical, be proof against, bear up, bear up against, beat against, block, bottle up, bridle, buck, check, clash, collide, combat, conflict, conflict with, confute, contest, contradict, contrapose, contravene, control, counter, counteract, counterattack, countercheck, counterpose, countervail, counterwork, cross, curb, dam up, damp, dampen, defy, delay, deny, detain, dispute, duel, endure, fight, fight against, foil, forgo, frustrate, gainsay, go against, go counter to, hinder, hold at bay, hold back, hold in check, hold out, hold out against, hold up, impede, impugn, inhibit, intercept, interfere, interfere with, intermeddle, interrupt, intervene, join the opposition, keep at bay, keep back, keep in check, lock horns, meddle, meet head-on, militate against, not abide, obstruct, oppose, oppugn, outlast, play at cross-purposes, preclude, prevent, protest, rebuff, refuse, repel, repress, repulse, restrain, retard, run against, run counter to, scotch, set back, slacken, snub, stand, stand up, stand up against, stand up to, stem, stop, suppress, swim upstream, take issue with, thwart, traverse, turn down, vote against, weather, withstand, work against

ROGET THESAURUS

Resist

Resistance

VB resist, not submit, repugn, reluct, reluctate, withstand, stand up against, strive against, bear up under, bear up against, be proof against, make head against, stand, stand firm, stand one's ground, stand the brunt of, stand out, hold one's grounds, hold one's own, hold out, hold firm, breast the wave, breast the current, stem the tide, stem the torrent, face, confront, grapple with, show a bold front, present a front, make a stand, take one's stand, kick, kick against, recalcitrate, kick against the pricks, oppose, fly in the face of, lift the hand against, rise up in arms, strike, turn out, draw up a round robin, revolt, make a riot, prendre le mors aux dents, take the bit between the teeth, sell one's life dearly, die hard, keep at bay, repel, repulse.

Refusal

VB refuse, reject, deny, decline, turn down, nill, negative, refuse one's assent, withhold one's assent, shake the head, close the hand, close the purse, grudge, begrudge, be slow to, hang fire, pass (at cards), be deaf to, dismiss, turn a deaf ear to, turn one's back upon, set one's face against, discountenance, not hear of, have nothing to do with, wash one's hands of, stand aloof, forswear, set aside, cast behind one, not yield an inch, resist, cross, not grant, repel, repulse, shut the door in one's face, slam the door in one's face, rebuff, send back, send to the right about, send away with a flea in the ear, deny oneself, not be at home to, discard, spurn, rescind, disclaim, protest, dissent.