Resists

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Acts to oppose or withstand an external force, pressure, or influence
2. Displays the ability to fight against or endure something trying to change or affect it
3. Withstands or opposes an attempt to alter, move, or damage it by exerting strength or resilience

Etymology: "Resists" is the third-person singular present form of "resist," so its history is that of the verb itself. The verb descends from Latin "resistere," built from "re-," meaning "back" or "against," and "sistere," meaning "cause to stand" or "take a stand." Its literal sense is therefore to stand back against something, planting yourself in opposition rather than yielding. The word reached English through two stages. Old French had "resistre," and Middle French developed "resister," from which Middle English took "resisten." The chain of borrowings shows the word was carried through French into English, with the Latin core of standing against preserved intact through each step.

Synonyms: withstands, opposes, defies, fights, rebuffs

Antonyms: yields, submits, surrenders, capitulates, complies