forstand

Meaning

Verb

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

Origin

• From Middle English forstanden, from Old English forstandan, from Proto-Germanic *frastandaną, equivalent to for- + stand. Cognate with West Frisian ferstean, Saterland Frisian ferstounde, Dutch verstaan, German verstehen. Compare also Norwegian Bokmål forstå, Swedish förstå.