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bestand. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
bestand, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
bestand in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
bestand you have here. The definition of the word
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bestand, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle English bistanden, bestanden, from Old English bestandan, from Proto-Germanic *bistandaną (“to surround, support”). Equivalent to be- + stand.
Pronunciation
Verb
bestand (third-person singular simple present bestands, present participle bestanding, simple past and past participle bestood)
- (transitive) To stand by or near; stand around.
- (transitive) To beset; stand around in hostility; harass.
1880, Sidney Lanier, Alfred Kappes, Sir Thomas Malory, The Boy's King Arthur:[...] that is my lord and uncle King Arthur, for he is full straitly bestood [sore beset] with a false traitor, which is my half brother Sir Mordred, [...]
- (transitive) To surround; encompass.
1846, Polydore Vergil, Sir Henry Ellis, Polydore Vergil's English history:Wherefore the Brittishe bisshops, bestood with weapons and enemies, when thei coulde not execute all functions, and perceaved that the prelates their neighbours weare prompte to assiste them, [...]
- (transitive) To serve; be of service to; be ready to serve or aid.
1904, Donald Grant Mitchell, American Lands and Letters:[...] and, inherited Puritan crust of stiffness that rarely left him, and which bestood him well under the ceremonials of his mission, whether at London (1846- 49) or later (1867-74) in Berlin.
1907, Donald Grant Mitchell, The works of Donald G. Mitchell:Would not children come kindly to such out-of-door lessons, and to such practical knowledge as would always bestand them well?
Synonyms
Anagrams
Danish
Etymology
From Low German bestant.
Noun
bestand c (singular definite bestanden, plural indefinite bestande)
- population (of an animal species)
- total number (of something)
Declension
Derived terms
References
Dutch
Etymology
From Middle Dutch bestant. Equivalent to be- + stand, compare German Bestand.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /bəˈstɑnt/
- Hyphenation: be‧stand
- Rhymes: -ɑnt
Noun
bestand n (plural bestanden, diminutive bestandje n)
- archive, file
- (computing) file
- truce
- Twaalfjarig Bestand — Twelve Years' truce
Derived terms
Descendants
Adjective
bestand (not comparable)
- capable of withstanding, capable to withstand
- Dit huis is bestand tegen stormen. — This house can withstand storms.
Inflection
Anagrams
German
Pronunciation
Verb
bestand
- first/third-person singular preterite of bestehen
Norwegian Bokmål
Etymology
From Low German bestant; compare with German Bestand.
Noun
bestand m (definite singular bestanden, indefinite plural bestander, definite plural bestandene)
- stock (e.g. of fish)
- stand (e.g. of trees)
- population (of wild animals / birds)
Derived terms
References
Norwegian Nynorsk
Etymology
From Low German bestant.
Noun
bestand m (definite singular bestanden, indefinite plural bestandar, definite plural bestandane)
- stock (e.g. of fish)
- stand (e.g. of trees)
- population (of wild animals / birds)
References