resistía

Resistía is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb resistir, meaning to withstand, oppose, or endure. It is used to describe ongoing or habitual resistance in the past, and its subject can be any person depending on the context, since the imperfect endings are -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían. For example: “Yo resistía la presión” or “Él resistía la tentación.” It contrasts with the preterite form resistí, which marks a completed action, and with the present form resisto.

Etymology and forms: Resistir comes from Latin resistere, meaning to oppose or stand against, formed from a root meaning “back” or “again” with a stem meaning “to stand.” The verb entered Spanish in medieval times and has derivatives such as resistencia (resistance), resistente (resistant), and resistible (less common in contemporary usage).

Usage notes: In narrative and descriptive writing, resistía helps establish background circumstances, ongoing attitudes, or repeated behavior in the past. The imperfect conveys nuance of duration or habituality rather than a single, decisive act. In some contexts, regional varieties may prefer synonyms or constructions to express extended opposition.

See also: Resistir, Resistencia, Resistente. The concept appears across literature, history, and social discourse, where forms of resistance are described in both personal and collective terms.