withstandv.
/wɪðˈstand/, U.S. /wɪθˈstænd/, /wɪðˈstænd/ 1. † b. To oppose in statement; to controvert, contradict, deny. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To stand or maintain one's or its position against; to offer resistance to, resist, oppose: often with implication that the resistance is successful or effectual.
(a) a person, his will, desire, power, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > resist
withstandc888
withsake971
forstanda1000
to stand again ——OE
withsetc1000
again-standOE
to stand againOE
warnc1175
wiþerhaldec1175
atstandc1220
astand1250
withsitc1300
sitc1325
asitc1330
(it) may well withc1395
reversea1400
resist1417
ofstandc1425
onstandc1425
gainstand?c1450
endure1470
obsista1475
repugna1513
recountera1525
occur1531
desist1548
impugn1577
obstrigillate1623
counter-stand1648
stem1675
repique1687
to make face to1807
to fight off1833
to stick up1838
bay1848
withstay1854
buck1857
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. vi. §1 Swa doð nu ða þeostro þinre gedrefednesse wiðstandan minum leohtum larum.
971 Blickl. Hom. 161 Hi cyningum & yfelum ricum ealdormannum wiþstandan mihtan.
c1000 Ælfric Homilies II. 434 Nis nan ðing þe his mihte wiðstande.
a1122 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) Introd. 3 Gif hwa eow wiðstent, we eow fultumiað.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 16143 & tatt all forr to cwemenn godd & defell to wiþþstanndenn.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 194 Þet we muȝe wið stonden þe deofles ferd. þet is se stronc up on us.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. Prol. 156 Myȝte we wiþ any witte his wille withstonde.
c1386 G. Chaucer Monk's Prol. 32 I dar hire [sc. my wife] nat withstonde For she is bigg in Armes.
1434 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 111 To with~stand your enemyes in tyme of nede.
c1450 Brut 432 She withstode the Duke of Burgoyne and alle his malice.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 783/2 All the worlde can nat withstande the wyll of God.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 212 Seeing that not their willes, but Gods predestination withstandeth them so, that they cannot be able to come.
1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 iv. v. 4 They haue wonne the bridge, Killing all those that withstand them.
1642 J. Taylor Mad Fashions sig. A2v Thou Lord of Hosts,..Thy foes (Thine Antichristian foes) withstand.
a1721 M. Prior Turtle & Sparrow (1723) 106 Grim Pluto will not be withstood By Force or Craft.
1857 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. I. vi. 296 His might nothing was able to withstand.
1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal II. v. 104 You have not the will to withstand your aunt.
(b) a blow, force, attack, impulse; a destructive, oppressive, or hostile agency or influence.
ΚΠ
OE Wanderer 15 Ne mæg werig mod wyrde wiðstondan, ne se hreo hyge helpe gefremman.
c1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 236 Þisse adle eac wiþstandeþ tosnidenre hreaþemuse blod.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 68 He was noght of such myht The strengthe of love to with~stonde.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19105 Yur sin witstand, þat yee mai rise Wit þat parti þat es rightwise.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 10523 Ioseph..þat styward was and wele widstode þe hunger þat egipt ouer-ȝode.
1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1558) viii. vii. 4 b The stroke of fortune withstant no creatures.
1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos v. sig. N.ijv And sturdy strokes he did withstand.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II i. i. 173 Rage must be withstoode . View more context for this quotation
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 509 It valiantly withstood the siege.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 253 Such destruction to withstand He hasted. View more context for this quotation
1741 Bp. J. Butler Serm. before House of Lords 16 The Love of Liberty..carries us to withstand Tyranny.
1842 C. Dickens Amer. Notes I. viii. 287 Having withstood such strong attacks upon my fortitude.
1852 Malpas Builder's Pocket-bk. 56 The pressure is..withstood by the abutments.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xi. 76 Ground to mud by an agency which the hardest rocks cannot withstand.
1912 Sphere 28 Dec. 326/2 Armour to withstand the terrific hitting power of the latest naval gun.
(c) a material thing.
ΚΠ
a1400 Octouian 1120 He ne fond neuer boon ne lyre Hys ax withstent.
1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades ii. 22 Yet they our Machins haue withstoode.
1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 209 An oxe doth withstand the yoke, and a horse doth with~stand the bridle.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis viii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 445 Nor thy resistless Arm the Bull withstood.
1721 M. Prior Predestination 332 A Casual Fabric built upon the sand Which can nor winds nor falling rains withstand.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. iv. 130 Their limbs Are not of stone or iron to withstand The trenchant steel ye wield.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > speaking against or contradiction > speak against or contradict [verb (transitive)]
withsake971
withsayc1175
forbidc1275
withtellec1275
counterplead1377
again-saya1382
withsaya1382
contrary1382
countersay1393
withstand1513
transverse1532
cross1589
contradict1596
controvert1596
respire1629
scruple1639
contravene1722
oppugn1781
countervene1825
to stand down1869
1513 Thomas Ld. Howard in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1846) 3rd Ser. I. 160 Trustyng that ye woll..withstonde all ill reports undeserved made of me.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Siii To wtstande and stoppe the tonges of them that..sclaundreth them.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 170 b This withstandeth our disputation of Necessitie nothyng at all.
c. To resist the attraction, influence, or cogency of; occasionally to abstain from (doing something).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > resist > the attraction or influence of
withstand1725
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)]
holdc897
forgoa1000
oversitOE
forbearc1200
letc1330
to let bec1385
to lay apart1526
refrain1528
to let pass1530
retainc1540
abstain1578
restrain1594
stay1599
nurture1627
withhold1650
waive1653
inhold1655
withstand1852
skip1961
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 127 A Curiosity..that I could scarce withstand.
1781 W. Cowper Charity 31 The wretch that slighted or withstood The tender argument of kindred blood.
1798 J. Ferriar Illustr. Sterne ii. 25 Religious disputes were subjects of ridicule too tempting to be withstood.
1852 B. Disraeli Ld. G. Bentinck 18 He could scarcely have withstood contemplating what might perhaps have been his own position.
1877 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 3) I. App. 753 It seems impossible to withstand this evidence.
a. To refuse to allow (a person) the possession of (something). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > retain or keep [verb (transitive)] > keep what is due to or desired by another > keep (a person) from possession of something
withstanda1400
stay1643
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 24772 [William] sloh þe king þat Harald hiht Þat born was of þe danis blod For qui þe land he him wit stod.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > hinder completely or prevent [verb (transitive)]
forbidc1000
forrunc1275
forbar1303
before-comec1384
withstanda1400
withholdc1400
prevenec1485
supprime1490
interrupt1497
resist?a1513
prevent1522
discourage1528
prohibit1531
stop1534
forleta1555
bar1559
to bar by and main1567
disbar1567
to cut off1576
embar1577
forestall1579
obvent1588
cancel1594
waylay1625
suppress1651
antevene1655
arceate1657
exarceate1657
interpel1722
stump1858
estop1876
plug1887
pre-empt1957
deter1961
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6973 Þai fand strang folk..þat..wit-stode þam þe land to win.
c1400 Rom. Rose 3807 He myght not his tunge withstonde Worse to reporte than he fonde.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes 278 (margin) What..Caesar saied vnto Metellus withstandyng that he should not take any money out of the treasourie [L. Metello obsistenti ne pecunias ab aerario tolleret].
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 177 b Nothyng withstandeth truely, but that both may bee true.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > escape from [verb (transitive)] > ward off harm
withhold13..
defendc1330
to bear offc1380
withstand1398
shielda1400
repela1450
to keep off1548
repulse1560
warda1586
fence1589
shelter1621
ward1759
fend-off1830
to fend back1877
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun > turn aside from > cause to
writhea1400
wrya1400
reflecta1500
reverta1500
withstand1508
reversec1540
declinea1555
evert1569
deflecta1575
divert1609
bias1628
blank1640
avert1697
shunt1858
sidetrack1887
ride1908
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) v. xxiv He haþ bondes and obstacles to withstonde & lette þe poudre.
c1485 Digby Myst. iii. 284 Lord, with-stond þis duresse!
1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. hh.i He may noo more withdrawe from them the bemes of his grace..than the sonne may withstonde his bemes out of wyndowes whan they be open.
d. To stand in the way of; to oppose or hinder the performance, operation, or progress of. Obsolete or merged in sense 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hinder [verb (transitive)]
letc888
shrenchc897
forstanda1000
amarOE
disturbc1290
impeachc1380
stopc1380
withstandc1385
hinder1413
accloy1422
hindc1426
to hold abackc1440
appeachc1460
impeditec1535
inhibit1535
obstacle1538
damp1548
trip1548
embarrass1578
dam1582
to clip the wings ofa1593
unhelp1598
uppen1600
straiten1607
rub1608
impediment1610
impedea1616
to put out1616
to put off1631
scote1642
obstruct1645
incommodiate1650
offend1651
sufflaminate1656
hindrance1664
disassist1671
clog1679
muzzle1706
squeeze1804
to take the wind out of the sails of1822
throttle1825
block1844
overslaugh1853
snag1863
gum1901
slow-walk1965
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Dido. 1183 Hyre systir Anne as she that coude hire good Seyde as hire thoughte & sumdel it with stod.
a1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 51 When þer growed..any superflue flesch.., I withstode it or mette it with poudre of creoferoboron.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward V f. jv He spared no mannes deathe whose life withstode his purpose.
1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health cix. 97 Raysons..concoct rawe humors and withstande putrefaction.
1621 G. Sandys tr. Ovid First Five Bks. Metamorphosis v. 120 His sword withstood Their re-ascent.
c1680 in Roxburghe Ballads (1891) VII. 358 Then prethee Love make no delay, let's not our precious time withstand.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 239 The Wintry Seas, and Southern Winds, Withstood their passage home.
1737 R. Glover Leonidas i. 228 Leonidas awake! Shall these withstand The public safety? Lo! thy country calls.
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. ii. iv. 173 I hope you will not withstand your own Preferments. View more context for this quotation
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles iii. iv. 86 His frantic mood Was scarcely by the news withstood, That Morag shared his sister's flight.
1825 W. Scott Talisman iv, in Tales Crusaders IV. 51 The entrance of Queen Berengaria..was withstood..by the chamberlains.
3. intransitive. To offer resistance or opposition.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (intransitive)] > resist
withstandc950
to make debatea1375
repugna1382
resista1547
reluct1547
reluctate1640
recalcitrate1647
renite1647
to fight back1890
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke xi. 53 Ongunnun ða ældu..hefiglice wiðstonda.
a1122 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) ann. 1070 Þa utlaga..woldon into þam mynstre, & þa munecas wið~stoden þæt hi na mihton in cumen.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 131 Ne mihte þer [in hell] nan wiðstonden, ne prophete ne patriarche.
c1200 Vices & Virtues 39 Strengþe to wiðstanden aȝeanes dieules fondinges.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2649 Ðe king wið-stod.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 22 Huanne þe man wyþstant to alle ham þet guod him wolde.
a1400 K. Alis. (Laud) 2062 Þise shulden wiþstonde hard And sauen al þe forme ward.
?a1400 Morte Arth. 1747 Ȝife we in the stour withstondene the better.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 456 Quhar God helpys, quhat may withstand?
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 781/2 Agaynst the wyll of God no man may withstande.
1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus Rom. Hist. 274 The citie was encouraged to withstand vpon the newes of Lucullus his approach.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 610 They..wish..to reach The..stream,..But fate withstands . View more context for this quotation
1676 S. Sewall Diary (1876) I. 31 He was here with Mr. Broughton earnestly urging [etc.]... Mr. Broughton with~stood.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iii. §2. 122 Langton prepared to withstand and rescue his country from the tyranny of John.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > [verb (intransitive)] > cease to move or become motionless > come to a stand or stop
abideOE
atstandc1000
steveneta1225
atstuntc1230
to make, take, etc., stallc1275
stema1300
astandc1314
withstanda1325
stintc1374
arrestc1400
stotec1400
stayc1440
steadc1475
stop short1530
disadvance1610
come1611
consist1611
check1635
halt1656
to bring to1697
to draw up1767
to bring up1769
to pull up1781
to fetch up1838
to come to a standstill1852
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3646 Ðre dages and nigtes faren it gan, And wið-stod in ðe deserd pharan.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 12780 Þey come & passed to þe wodes side, & þere wyþstode for to abyde.
c1450 Pistel of Swete Susan (Calig.) 285 Alle were a-stonyed and with-stood.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
v.c888