Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1715, 1777-1815, 1871-1913
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†GAINSTAND, v. Also -sta(u)n. To withstand, oppose. Common in Eng. down to middle of 17th cent., since then arch. Also in Nhb. dial.Peb. 1715 A. Pennecuik Descr. Twd. 64:
O, too Imperfect Nature that gainstands, That Frets and Champs the Bit of Laws commands.Abd. 1777 R. Forbes in Sc. Poems 38:
Ajax, wha alane gainstood Gods, Trojans, sword an' fire.Dmf. 1815 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 856:
I cou'dna gainstand a fair proffer sae kind, But gae him my liel heart, an tookna the gee.Sc.(E) 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ iii. vi. 91:
Throwe a middlin gainstaunin ye fa' awa frae what ye begude, an' syne owre geenyochly seek eftir consolement.
Hence gainstan'er, an opponent, enemy.Sc.(E) 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms 42:
Abune my gainstan'ers heize me.
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"Gainstand v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gainstand>
