gainstand

verb, noun — 3 senses

gainstand

verb

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

1

UK, Dialectal To stand against; resist, oppose; withstand.

  • 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:
2 more examples
  • 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:
  • 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:
2

UK, Dialectal To make or offer resistance.

Derived terms
gainstander, gainstanding

gainstand

noun

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

1

Scotland, Dialectal Opposition; resistance.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.