p. -stód. pl. -stódon; pp. -standen; I. to stand up for, to defend, aid, help, benefit, avail; defendĕre, prodesse :-- Gif hine nelle forstandan if he will not stand up for him, L. In. 62; Th. i. 142, 6. Twelfhyndes mannes áþ forstent vi ceorla áþ a twelve hundred man's oath stands for the oath of six churls, L. O. 13; Th. i. 182, 19. Ðæt his gewitnes eft náht ne forstande that his witness avail again nothing, L. Ath. i. 10; Th. i. 204, 24. Gif hine hwá forstande if any one stand up for him, L. Ath. i. 1; Th. i. 198, 25. Gif hine hwá fórene forstande if any one defend him, he might defend the treasure, Beo. Th. 5903; B. 2955. Forstond ðú mec protect thou me, Exon. 118 b; Th. 455, 31; Hy. 4, 58. Hwá forstandeþ hie, gif ðu hie ne scyldest who shall defend it, if thou dost not shield it, Blickl. Homl. 225, 18. Hwæt forstód ðám betestum mannum -- oððe hwæt forstent hit what did it help the best men -- or what does it profit? Bt. 18, 4; Fox 68, 7, 9. Ne forstent ðæt þweál náuht the washing profits nothing, Past. 54; Hat. MS. II. to understand; intelligĕre :-- Uneáðe ic mæg forstandan ðíne acsunga I can scarcely understand thy questions, Bt. 5, 3; Fox 12, 15. Selfe forstódon his word onwended they themselves understood his words [to be] perverted, Cd. 37; Th. 48, 2; Gen. 769. Dut. ver-staan: Ger. ver-stehen to understand.] for-standan