An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Any set of conditions that describe the normal, desired, or ideal state of something, and that serves a basis for representing or evaluating actual examples of this thing.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from O.Fr. estandart “banner, standard,” probably from Frankish *standord; cf. Ger. Standort “standing-point,” from standan “to stand,” cognate with Pers. istâdan, as below, with the second component conformed to -ard.

Etymology (PE): Estândé, literally “made stand, fixed,” p.p. istândan transitive verb of istâdan, “to → stand.”