gainstand

G2A1I1N1S1T1A1N1D2

verb

To stand against; resist, oppose; withstand.

Scrabble 11

Meanings

verbgainstand (third-person singular simple present gainstands, present participle gainstanding, simple past and past participle gainstood)

present singular third person gainstands · participle present gainstanding · participle past gainstood · past gainstood · alternative ganestand

  1. 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 177
    3 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.5

    And 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 5

    It 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
  2. UKdialectalintransitiveTo make or offer resistance.
noungainstand (plural gainstands)

plural gainstands · alternative ganestand

  1. ScotlanddialectalOpposition; resistance.

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

  1. Middle Englishgainstanden
  2. Englishgainstand

From Middle English gainstanden, corresponding to gain- + stand. Compare againstand.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

gainstand. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gainstand

MLA

“gainstand.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gainstand. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gainstand,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gainstand.

Source: gainstand on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.