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Where does the word "resist" come from? It comes from Latin resistere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
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Where does the word "resist" come from? It comes from Latin resistere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
Resist’s story begins in Latin: resistere meant “to stand back against.” To stand back against, from re- (back) and sistere (to stand). It reached English by 1400s as resist. Settled as the English word for opposing or withstanding something. Today, resist means to oppose or withstand the force or effect of something.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient resistere "to stand back against", to stand back against, from re- (back) and sistere (to stand).
- Stage 2 · English · 1400s resist "to oppose or withstand something", settled as the English word for opposing or withstanding something.