English Explanatory Dictionary

forstand

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To stand against; stand in front of so as to bar the way; block; oppose; withstand.
  2. To understand; comprehend.

Pronunciation

/fə(ɹ)ˈstænd/ /fɔː(ɹ)ˈstænd/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-forstand.wav /fɚˈstænd/

Word forms

forstand forstands forstanding forstood forestand

Etymology

From Middle English forstanden, from Old English forstandan (“to defend, help, protect, withstand, prevent, hinder, resist, oppose, benefit, avail, understand, signify, be equal to”), from Proto-West Germanic *frastandan (“to understand, oppose”), equivalent to for- + stand. Cognate with West Frisian ferstean (“to understand”), Saterland Frisian ferstounde (“to understand”), Dutch verstaan (“to understand”), German verstehen (“to understand”). Compare also Norwegian Bokmål forstå (“to comprehend, understand”), Swedish förstå (“to comprehend, understand”).

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