wiþstandan

Old English

Alternative forms

• wiðstandan, wiðstondan

Etymology

From wiþ- +‎ standan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wiθˈstɑn.dɑn/

Verb

wiþstandan

1. to stand against, stand in the way of, resist, be a match for
   • Exeter Book, The Wanderer

     Ne mæg werig mod · wyrde wiðstondan,
     ne se hreo hyge · helpe gefremman.

     A weary mind cannot withstand fate,
     nor the worried mind help out.

   • late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans

     Leoniða, Læcedemonia cyning, Crēca byrġ, hæfde IIII þūsend monna, þā hē anġēan Xersis fōr, on ānum nearwan londfæstenne; ⁊ him þǣr mid ġefeohte wiðstōd.

     Leonidas, king of Sparta, a Greek city, had four thousand men, when he marched against Xerxes, in a narrow fortified pass; and stood against him in battle.

2. to obstruct, prevent, hinder
3. to keep away, be absent

Conjugation

Conjugation of wiþstandan (strong class 6)

infinitive	wiþstandan	wiþstandenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	wiþstande	wiþstōd
second person singular	wiþstenst, wiþstentst	wiþstōde
third person singular	wiþstent	wiþstōd
plural	wiþstandaþ	wiþstōdon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	wiþstande	wiþstōde
plural	wiþstanden	wiþstōden
imperative
singular	wiþstand
plural	wiþstandaþ
participle	present	past
	wiþstandende	wiþstanden

Descendants

• Middle English: withstanden
  • English: withstand