resist
UK[rɪˈzɪst]US[rɪˈzɪst]
v
To refuse to accept or be changed by something; to oppose or fight against something.
v
To stop yourself from doing something that you want to do.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
sist
re
again, back
sist
stand
Etymology
The word "resist" entered English in the late 14th century from Old French resister, which itself came from Latin resistere. This Latin verb is a compound of the prefix re-, meaning "against" or "back," and sistere, meaning "to take a stand" or "to cause to stand." The core logic is vividly literal: to stand against or to take a stand in opposition. This sense of active, often physical, opposition has evolved to encompass both concrete actions, like resisting a force, and abstract or psychological ones, like resisting temptation. The journey from the Proto-Indo-European root sta- ("to stand, make or be firm") through Latin to modern English preserves the fundamental idea of maintaining a firm position in the face of an opposing pressure or influence.
Analysis
Structure: re (again, back) + sist (stand)
- re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back."
- sist: From Latin sistere, meaning "to stand, take a stand, set, place."
Examples
The material is designed to resist heat and corrosion.
He couldn't resist eating the last piece of cake.
The protesters vowed to resist the new law.