Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - withstand

~ v past tense and past participle withstood, 1 to be strong enough to remain unharmed by something such as great heat or cold, great pressure etc  (a type of desert bush that can withstand extremes of temperature | withstand the test of time (=still be important, effective etc after a long time))  (theories that have withstood the test of time) 2 to defend yourself against attack, and successfully oppose someone or something  (withstanding a heroic doomed attack by six allied divisions)