Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: withstandan, from with 'against' + standan 'to stand'

withstand

 verb
     
with‧stand past tense and past participle withstood [transitive]
1 to be strong enough to remain unharmed by something such as great heat, cold, pressure etc [= resist, stand up to]:
This fabric can withstand steam and high temperatures.
2 to defend yourself successfully against people who attack, criticize, or oppose you [= stand up to]:
The Chancellor has withstood the criticism and held firm.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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