The word "withstand" is spelled with the IPA transcription /wɪðˈstænd/. The "w" sound is followed by the vowel sound "ɪ", then the consonant sound "ð," which is formed by putting your tongue between your teeth and blowing air through your mouth. The second part of the word starts with the "s" sound, followed by the vowel sound "tæn," and the final consonant sound "d" which is formed by placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth behind your teeth and releasing air through your mouth. "Withstand" means to resist or endure something without giving up.
Withstand is a verb that refers to the action of standing strong or enduring a force, pressure, or challenge without being overcome or giving in. It conveys the idea of resiliently resisting or holding up against something, often against great odds or difficulty.
To withstand can be understood as withstanding physical, emotional, or mental strain. On a physical level, it may describe the ability to endure harsh weather conditions, powerful forces or impact, or to remain stable against physical stress. For instance, a building or structure that is able to withstand earthquakes or storms is considered strong and well-built.
Emotionally, to withstand can imply maintaining one's composure or remaining steady in the face of intense emotions or distressing situations. It involves having the strength to face challenges without breaking or crumbling emotionally. For example, someone who is able to withstand criticism or withstand the loss of a loved one demonstrates a resilient and unyielding nature.
On a mental level, to withstand conveys the capacity to resist or oppose the impact of challenging ideas or beliefs. It is about having the fortitude to hold on to one's beliefs or opinions despite conflicting arguments or pressures to conform.
Overall, the term withstand encapsulates the notion of strength, resilience, and endurance, describing the ability of individuals, objects, or ideas to withstand and withstand adversity, opposition, or unfavorable conditions.
To oppose; to resist.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "withstand" is derived from Old English "wiþstandan", which can be further broken down as "wiþ" meaning against and "standan" meaning to stand. Therefore, the literal meaning of "withstand" is to stand against or resist.