Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The practice or principle of complete obedience to authority even if unjust or arbitrary.
  • noun The practice or principle of refusing to resort to force even in defense against violence.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The absence of resistance; passive obedience: submission to authority, even if unjustly exercised, without physical opposition.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The principles or practice of a nonresistant; passive obedience; submission to authority, power, oppression, or violence without opposition.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun lack of resistance; not actively resisting

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun group refusal to resort to violence even in defense against violence

Etymologies

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Examples

  • If we just accepted what life dealt us with "nonresistance" (a major sticking point for Tolle) we'd live a more blissful existence.

    Erin Gates: A Pessimist's New Earth 2008

  • The conclusions of his studies and thinking had the disagreeable effect of leading him away from Garrison's doctrine of "nonresistance" and "disunion."

    Frederick Douglass 1906

  • There is a spiritual consciousness that, through the power of nonresistance, can change a condition that appears solid.

    The 7 Glenn Beck 2011

  • There is a spiritual consciousness that, through the power of nonresistance, can change a condition that appears solid.

    The 7 Glenn Beck 2011

  • But a gentle touch, used with nonresistance, can work miracles.

    Make Miracles in Forty Days Melody Beattie 2010

  • I began to see the power of nonresistance when I actively practiced aikido, a soft martial art that works only for self-defense.

    Make Miracles in Forty Days Melody Beattie 2010

  • He argued that because Jesus counseled nonresistance (urging his followers to turn the other cheek), nonviolent resistance was no more faithful to the Gospel than violence — after all, it did resist.

    A Man for All Reasons 2007

  • The doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power, and oppression

    The Volokh Conspiracy » More on gun registration, and guns at POTUS speeches: 2009

  • The doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » More on gun registration, and guns at POTUS speeches: 2009

  • Inner nonresistance to whatever is or happens is a denial of the absolute reality of form.

    Botswana 2008: Attitude Adjustment Jennifer Marie Jordan 2009

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