Standards
/ˈstæn.dədz/noun
Plural of standard: a level of quality, a rule, or an official flag or emblem.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a Germanic root meaning “to stand,” and the military banner sense is older than the modern idea of “high standards,” because armies once rallied around a fixed standing marker.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*stā-
“to stand, make or be firm”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*standaną
“to stand”
Old English
OE
standan
“to stand”
Late Latin
Latin
standardum
“a banner or military ensign”
Old French
OF
estandart
“a military banner or flag”
Middle English
English
standard
“an official banner; later, a measure, rule, or level of quality”
Modern English
English
standards
“rules, benchmarks, or official flags”