resistance

• resistaunce (obsolete)
• resistence (rare, see usage notes)

From earlier resistence, from Middle English resistence, from Old French resistence, from Latin resistentia.

Morphologically resist +‎ -ance.

• IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈzɪstəns/

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resistance (countable and uncountable, plural resistances)

1. The act of resisting, or the capacity to resist.

   Synonym: opposition

   • 1695, John Kettlewell, Chriſtianity, a Doctrine of the Cross: or, Paſſive Obedience under any Pretended Invaſion of Legal Rights and Liberties‎^[1], page 89:

     […] this Autority of his Perſon, doth notwithſtanding lay on us an Obligation, of keeping under his Obedience, and making no warlike Reſiſtance.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

     When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. […]. The captive made no resistance and came not only quietly but in a series of eager little rushes like a timid dog on a choke chain.

   widespread resistance to the new urban development plans

   the resistance of bacteria to certain antibiotics

2. (physics) A force that tends to oppose motion.
3. (physics) Electrical resistance.
4. (electronics, dated) A resistor.
   • 1928, American Telephone and Telegraph Company, American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Long Lines Dept, Principles of Electricity Applied to Telephone and Telegraph Work (page 52)

     In our study of simple electrical circuits, we have considered a single source of E.M.F. for each individual circuit but we have learned that any number of resistances may be connected in parallel […]

5. An underground organisation engaged in a struggle for liberation from forceful occupation; a resistance movement.
   • 2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3: From Ashes (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: Priority Mission: Eden Prime:

     Alliance forces are stretched too thin right now to attempt to liberate the colony, but we've been doing what we can to covertly aid the local resistance.

• resistance on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

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