Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†FORSTAND, v. Also for(e)stan, farstand.

Sc. usages, obs. in Eng. a.1700.

1. To withstand, resist.Sc. c.1715 in Hogg Jacobite Relics I. 123:
Can they forstand the tartan trews, And auld Stuarts back again?

2. To understand (Ork. 1885 Ellis E.E.P. V. 803).Sc. 1706 Sc. Antiquary XII. 105:
Her nane sell does not well Farstand tese Nice Points some Folk wha are not mikle Wiser tan Her sell pretend to Judge of.Mry. 1865 W. H. L. Tester Poems 142:
I canna forstan', man, hoo he, sic a gran' man, Sud tak' cutlin' in han', man.Sc.(E) 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms cxxxix. 14:
'Am sae wonner fine; wrought a' sae gran', as my thought can forestan'.