seismic-resistant
|sei-smic-re-sis-tant|
/saɪzˈmɪk rɪˈzɪstənt/
able to withstand earthquakes
Etymology
'seismic-resistant' originates from Modern English, formed by combining 'seismic' and 'resistant'. 'seismic' comes from Greek 'seismos' meaning 'earthquake' (entered English via Neo-Latin/French), and 'resistant' comes from Latin 'resistere' meaning 'to stand against' or 'to resist.'
'seismic' is derived from Greek 'seismos' and entered scientific usage via Neo-Latin and 19th-century English; 'resistant' comes from Latin 'resistere' → Old French 'resister' → Middle English 'resist'. The compound 'seismic-resistant' is a modern engineering formation used in the 20th century to describe structures designed to withstand earthquakes.
Initially the components meant 'earthquake' ('seismic') and 'to stand against' ('resistant'); over time the compound came to specifically mean 'able to withstand earthquakes' in engineering and construction contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a transformation: the noun phrase 'seismic resistance' — the capacity or degree to which a structure or material can resist seismic (earthquake) forces.
Engineers tested the building's seismic resistance after the retrofit.
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Adjective 1
able to withstand or resist the forces produced by earthquakes; designed to remain functional or avoid collapse during seismic events.
The new hospital wing was built to be seismic-resistant so it can remain operational after a major quake.
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Last updated: 2025/11/21 10:12