wind-resistant
Meaning
Designed or able to withstand strong winds without being damaged or moved.
Structure
Usage
The architect specified wind-resistant glass for the skyscraper's exterior.
This jacket is made from a lightweight yet wind-resistant fabric.
Ensure the garden shed is properly anchored to be wind-resistant.
Etymology
The compound adjective "wind-resistant" is a modern technical formation built from two core concepts. The first element, "wind," descends from the ancient Proto-Indo-European root h₂wéh₁n̥ts, which conveyed the fundamental idea of blowing air, a concept preserved in Latin ventus and Old English wind. The second element, "resistant," originates from the Latin verb resistere, meaning "to stand against" or "to oppose," a combination of re- (against) and sistere (to cause to stand). When combined, the term's logic is transparently literal: it describes an object possessing the quality of "standing against the wind." This etymological composition directly informs its contemporary definition, specifying a design or material property that offers opposition to the force of moving air, thereby preventing damage or displacement.
Analysis
- wind: From Old English wind, of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin ventus. The noun meaning "air in natural motion." - resistant: From Latin resistent-, present participle stem of resistere (to resist), from re- (against) + sistere (to stand). The adjective-forming suffix -ant indicates "performing the action of the verb."