n.
Pronunciation: ri- ' zist
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French resister, from Latin resistere, from re- + sistere to take a stand; akin to Latin stare to stand ― more at STAND
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb : to exert force in opposition
transitive verb
1 : to exert oneself so as to counteract or defeat <he resist ed temptation>
2 : to withstand the force or effect of <material that resist s heat>
synonyms see OPPOSE