standard

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   commonly used or supplied

   standard procedure

2. 2
   adj

   regularly and widely used or sold

   a standard size

3. 3
   adj

   established or well-known or widely recognized as a model of authority or excellence

   a standard reference work

4. 4
   adj

   conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

   standard English (American)

5. 5
   noun

   an upright pole or beam (especially one used as a support)

   distance was marked by standards every mile

6. 6
   noun

   the ideal in terms of which something can be judged

   they live by the standards of their community

7. 7
   adj

   Growing alone as a free-standing plant; not trained on a post etc.

   There are women who cannot grow alone as standard trees;—for whom the support and warmth of some wall, some paling, some post, is absolutely necessary […].

8. 8
   adj

   Having recognized excellence or authority.

   standard works in history; standard authors

Etymology

From Middle English standard, from Old French estandart (“gathering place, battle flag”), from Frankish *standahard (literally “stand firm, stand hard”), equivalent to stand + -ard. An alternative etymology derives the second element from Frankish *oʀd (“point, spot, place”) (compare Old French ordé (“pointed”), Old English ord (“point, source, vanguard”), German Standort (“location, place, site, position, base”, literally “standing-point”)). Merged with Middle English standar, stander, standere (“flag, banner”, literally “stander”), equivalent to stand + -er. More at stand, hard, ord. As a hi…