An archaic verb meaning to stand by, withstand, or resist, or to remain standing in a particular state or condition.
From Old English 'bestandan,' combining 'be-' with 'stand,' related to German 'bestand' (stock or inventory), showing how 'stand' evolved different meanings in different languages.
In German, 'Bestand' means inventory or stock—literally what 'stands by' you—showing how the same word root evolved completely different practical meanings when English and German speakers needed different concepts after their languages split.
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