An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Verstand

by Friedrich Kluge

Verstand, m., ‘understanding, intelligence, sense,’ from MidHG. verstant (d), which is used only rarely (in the sense of ‘explanation, information’); comp. MidHG. verstantnisse, ‘intelligence, insight, understanding,’ to which MidHG. verstęndic, ‘intelligent,’ is allied. In OHG. too firstantnissi is most frequently used. To this word is allied ModHG. verstehen, vb., ‘to understand, comprehend,’ from MidHG. verstân, OHG. firstân (firstantan), ‘to perceive, see into, notice, understand’; comp. Du. verstaan, AS. forstǫndan (in E. to understand). How the meaning can be derived from the root of stehen is not clear; it is usually referred to Gr. ἐπίσταμαι, ‘to understand,’ compared with the root στα, ‘to stand.’ —