standhoudt

Standhoudt is a Dutch verb form, the third-person singular present tense of standhouden, a compound verb meaning to withstand, endure, or hold out against pressure, opposition, or calamities. In older Dutch spelling and in more formal or literary registers, standhoudt can appear as a present-tense form. In modern standard Dutch, the same idea is usually expressed with two-word constructions such as houdt stand (holds out) or the infinitive standhouden. Therefore standhoudt is primarily encountered in historical texts, poetry, or in discussions about classical language usage.

Etymology and meaning: The word combines stand (to stand) and houden (to hold), drawing on common Germanic roots. The core sense is to maintain one’s position, integrity, or composure in the face of external forces.

Usage and style: Standhoudt denotes physical endurance (a fortress standhoudt against an assault) as well as figurative resilience (a country standhoudt under economic or political pressure). In contemporary writing, preferred forms are houdt stand for present tense or standhouden in the infinitive. When standhoudt appears, it is typically in contexts aiming for historical authenticity, dialectal flavor, or stylistic effect.

Examples (archaic or formal): De stad standhoudt tegen de belegering. De verdediger standhoudt versus de beschuldigingen. Modern paraphrase: De stad houdt stand tegen de belegering; De verdediger houdt stand tegen de beschuldigingen.

See also: standhouden, standvastigheid, weerbaarheid.