Dictionary

overstand en · NOUN · etymology 1

Etymology

From Middle English overstonden, from Old English oferstandan (“to stand over”), equivalent to over- + stand. Cognate with Dutch overstaan (“to stand over”), German überstehen (“to stand through, survive”).

Meanings

1. The measurement between the top plate and the fingerboard where the neck meets the body of the instrument.

Forms

overstand en · VERB · etymology 1

Etymology

From Middle English overstonden, from Old English oferstandan (“to stand over”), equivalent to over- + stand. Cognate with Dutch overstaan (“to stand over”), German überstehen (“to stand through, survive”).

Meanings

1. (rare, transitive) To stand or insist too much or too long; overstay.
   • But they that overstand the day of grace, shall not obtain to cool their tongues so much of this water as will hang on the tip of one's finger. 1688, Bunyan, The Water of Life:
2. (transitive) To stand too strictly on the demands or conditions of.
3. (qualifier:yachting; boat racing; yachting; boat racing, transitive) To sail (to the mark) at a wider angle than is the normal upwind angle; to go beyond (the layline).
4. (intransitive, of a coppice) To be neglected and left uncut for too long.
   • When a coppice woodland is no longer cut on its regular rotation the rods from the stool continue to grow and the coppice becomes known as overstood. Sadly, in many parts of the country this is the commonest form of coppice you are likely to see. 2001, Ben Law, The Woodland Way: a permaculture approach to sustainable woodland management, Hyden House, →ISBN:

Forms

overstand en · VERB · etymology 2

Etymology

Blend of over + understand, coined in Rastafarianism before 1965.

Meanings

1. (qualifier:US black subculture) To have complete or intuitive comprehension of; to understand fully.
   • "But, Sister, it look like you neither overstand or understand" 1965, Orlando Patterson, The children of Sisyphus: A novel, page 192:
   • "I need you to overstand this the way I overstand this. Notice how I didn't say understand, because I need you to more than understand—I need you to overstand." 2016, Khaled Mohamed Khaled, The Keys:

Forms

Relateds

innerstanding

Synonyms

get · grok