unresistancen.
/(ˌ)ʌnrᵻˈzɪst(ə)ns/, U.S. /ˌənrəˈzɪst(ə)ns/ Lack of resistance; the quality of being unresisting.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > absence of resistance > [noun]
irresistance1643
unresistance1644
unresistingness1829
1644 P. Hunton Vindic. Treat. Monarchy iv. 27 Being authoritative, they authorize the Instrument, and give him an unresistance.
1651 Bp. J. Hall Susurrium cum Deo lxvi. 242 How doe they [sc. dumb creatures] beare our stripes with a trembling unresistance?
1742 tr. C. P. J. de Crébillon Sopha II. 171 Phéléas, after having languish'd some Minutes on the Bosom of Zéïnis,..agitated by new Desires, which the Unresistance she testified rendered more vehement, look'd on her with Eyes inflam'd.
1851 A. Marsh Ravenscliffe I. 262 That is just what drives me mad,—that soft, passive, gentle way of taking my rude violence,—that submission, that unresistance.
1904 W. Trafford-Taunton Redempt. Damian Gier 119 The delicious sense of helplessness—of unresistance—which prevaded [read pervaded] his sensibilities beneath the light of that serious questioning gaze.
1976 Economist 29 May 11/1 Our special correspondent describes..Indians' strange passive unresistance.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1644