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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Resistence, -ens, n. Also: rescist-, resyst-; rasest- and -a(u)nce, -ans. [ME and e.m.E. resistence (Chaucer), -ance (1417), OF resistence, -ance (c1270 and c1560 in Larousse), L. resistentia.] Resistance. a. The action of opposing, withstanding or striving against. 1375 Barb. xviii 214 (see Resistar n.).
Resistens c1420 Wynt. viii 7073.
Na nane resistence had thai 1456 Hay I 49/10.
The Romaynis ar hardy in curage quhen thai get na resistence 1478 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 339.
For the resistens and agane standying of the wikkit emagination and fals suggestion of the said William Cummyn 1515 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. xl.
For he wald fynd lytyll or na resystans 1533 Bell. Livy I 234/10.
The Equis … sufferit thare inemyis to … pas but ony resistence 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 27.
That na maner of tennentis mak ony convocatioun … for resistence to thair lordis …, thair ballies and officiaris

b. To mak resistence, to resist, oppose. = Resist v. 1, 3 and 4.Const. agane, to, also with indirect object and without const.(1) a1400 Leg. S. i 281.
He mycht mak na resistence Agan Petir, no nan defence c1420 Wynt. iv 704.
Sa few for thare defens Durst mak agayne hym [sc. Cerces] resistens 1456 Hay I 201/9.
That he that makis resistence aganis his juge he makis aganis his God(2) c1420 Wynt. vi 1576.
Ethelred mad gret deffens And to thare felny resystens 1490 Irland Mir. I 121/13.
Resistaunce 1528 Lynd. Dreme 468.
To aulde Saturne he makis resistance(3) c1420 Wynt. iv 1770.
Thai suld rys in thare defence, Gyff ony maid thame resistence 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 87.
[We] mone awayt upone ther incuming and mayk tham sic stope and rescistance as we may gwdly(4) 1459 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 62.
Thar vas nane to argwn nor tyll mak resistans tharin a1500 Henr. Fab. 2647.
All heuie thing man off the selff discend Bot giff sum thing on force mak resistence c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 6.
He him bethocht … to get sum aduocat expert … Or in sum part thairin mak resistence

c. Withoutin resistence, in a manner which precludes resistance. a1500 Henr. Fab. 790.
Feir this suddane schoit Quhilk smytis sair withoutin resistence

d. Prevention. Cf. Resist v. 1 b. 1554 Corr. M. Lorraine 379.
For the rasestance of the mone slawchtiris commettit with in this realme