resisting
UK[rɪˈzɪstɪŋ]US[rɪˈzɪstɪŋ]
v
Present participle or gerund of 'resist'. The act of opposing, withstanding, or refusing to accept something.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
sist
ing
re
again/back
sist
stand
ing
verb suffix
Etymology
The word "resisting" is built upon the core Latin verb resistere, meaning "to stand back" or "to make a stand against". The prefix re- imparts a sense of opposition or counter-action, while the root -sist- provides the foundational concept of taking a stand. This literal image of standing firm against a force evolved into the modern abstract sense of opposing, withstanding, or refusing to comply. The addition of the English participial suffix -ing transforms the verb into a form describing the ongoing action or state of this opposition.
Analysis
Structure: re (again/back) + sist (stand) + ing (verb suffix)
- re: Latin origin. A prefix meaning "again" or "back".
- sist: Latin origin, from the verb sistere, meaning "to stand".
- ing: Old English origin. A suffix used to form the present participle or gerund of verbs.
Examples
The material is capable of resisting high temperatures.
He was arrested for resisting arrest.
She had difficulty resisting the temptation to eat the entire cake.