resist Look up resist at Dictionary.com
late 14c., from O.Fr. resister, from L. resistere "to resist, to stand back, withstand," from re- "against" + sistere "take a stand, stand firm" (see assist). Resistance is attested from 1417, from O.Fr. resistence, from L.L. resistentia, from L. resistentem (nom. resistens), prp. of resistere. Sense of "organized covert opposition to an occupying power" first recorded 1940 in reference to Fr. opposition to Nazi rule. Since applied to similar organizations (e.g. anti-Soviet fighters in Afghanistan, 1980s). Electromagnetic sense is from 1860.