I. rə̇ˈzist, rēˈz- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English resisten, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French resister, from Latin resistere, from re- + sistere to take a stand, cause to stand; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand
transitive verb
1. : to withstand the force or the effect of : be able to repel or ward off
armor that resists all weapons
a constitution that resists disease
metal that resists acid
2. : to exert oneself to counteract or defeat : strive against : oppose
resist the enemy valiantly
resisting arrest
resisted temptation
resist the lowering of moral standards
3. obsolete : to be distasteful to
intransitive verb
: to exert force in opposition
it can overrule him, yes, but he must somehow resist — H.D.Thoreau
Synonyms: see contest
II. noun
( -s )
1. obsolete : resistance
2. : something (as a coating) that resists or prevents a particular action: as
a. : a substance (as a paste) used in textile printing to prevent either by mechanical or chemical means or both the fixing of a color or mordant on parts of the fabric
additions of inert substances to chemical resists … are often useful — Ellis Clayton
b. : a substance applied to a surface to render it nonconducting during electroplating and thus prevent deposition
c. : a protective acid-proof coating on the printing area of a photoengraving undergoing etching — called also acid resist
III. adjective
Etymology: resist (II)
: decorated by or involving decoration by a process in which blank areas of design are made by coating ceramic materials with washable resist before applying glaze, luster, or other finish
a pink and bronze resist jug
a resist technique