• EleventhHour@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Heard it explained once that they “do not stand under the law,” therefore they “overstand” it.

    It’s obstinacy mixed with idiocy.

      • EleventhHour@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I believe the switch from understand to overstand has to do with feelings of sovereignty and not being “under” someone.

        This is what I was trying to describe and it’s just linguistic hullabaloo. The word “understand” has absolutely nothing to do with literally standing under anything/one. It simply means to comprehend. This under/overstand distinction is borne out of ignorance and nothing more.