Meanings
present singular third person gainstands · participle present gainstanding · participle past gainstood · past gainstood · alternative ganestand
- UKdialectaltransitiveTo stand against; resist, oppose; withstand.
And therefore I conclude that they who gainstood his commandment resisted not the ordinance of God.
1888, Eliakim Littell, Robert S. Littell, The living age: Volume 1773 more examples
He perceived three French Gentlemen, who alone, with an incredible and undaunted boldnesse, gainstood the enraged violence, and made head against the furie of his victorious armie.
, Folio Society, 2006, p.5And you, now last in accusing us of these most odious crimes, whereof we be most innocent, ye and your brethern, I say, in teaching this your pestilent doctrine, and accusing us who gainstand your devilish errors, do plainely declare what ye have already intended, if God by his great power bridle not your furie.
1856, John Knox, The works of John Knox: Volume 5It was the New Castle built upon Tyne to gainstand the Scots, who then and for some centuries afterwards sadly troubled these rough borderers, and in turn were sadly troubled by them.
1874, The Gentleman's magazine, volume 237 - UKdialectalintransitiveTo make or offer resistance.
plural gainstands · alternative ganestand
- ScotlanddialectalOpposition; resistance.
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- Middle Englishgainstanden
- Englishgainstand
From Middle English gainstanden, corresponding to gain- + stand. Compare againstand.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
gainstand. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gainstand
“gainstand.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gainstand. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gainstand,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gainstand.
Source: gainstand on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.