Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Withstand \With*stand"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Withstood}; p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Withstanding}.] [AS. wi[eth]standan. See {With},
   prep., and {Stand}.]
   To stand against; to oppose; to resist, either with physical
   or moral force; as, to withstand an attack of troops; to
   withstand eloquence or arguments. --Piers Plowman.

         I withstood him to the face.             --Gal. ii. 11.

         Some village Hampden, that, with dauntless breast. The
         little tyrant of his fields withstood.   --Gray.

Source : WordNet®

withstand
     v 1: resist or confront with resistance; "The politician defied
          public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the
          greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held" [syn: {defy},
           {hold}, {hold up}]
     2: stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something [syn:
        {resist}, {hold out}, {stand firm}] [ant: {surrender}]
     [also: {withstood}]