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. 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). resistant adj. resister n. resistible adj. resistibility n.
[ ME f. OF resister or L resistere (as RE-, sistere stop, redupl. of stare stand) ]