Understood

The eulogies for Rosa Parks have all included a play on the words"sit" and "stand". It is not a new observation. The idea has been part of the history of the event since it happened. But it started me thinking about the word "stand"

Here we "run" for the Senate, in England they are more reserved, they merely "stand" for Parliament, The origins of this usage is obvious. When you are asked to help an effort, or to join a group, or simply to acknowledge your support for a cause you stand up while others "sit it out".This is clear in the old hymn "Stand up, stand up for Jesus. you soldiers of the cross"

The phrase that came to mind and started me thinking about the way the word is used was "I will not stand for that!" It is a statement of belief and in Rosa's case a declaration of her refusal to physically obey a law she believed to be unjust.

That was just the beginning. Other phrases with slightly
different spins came to mind.

Stand by your man

Stand your ground.

Take a stand

I can't stand that

That's a stand out.

Let it stand.

Now I am left with two words that still puzzle me. Where does "stance" come from and why do we underSTAND ?