General
overstand
What does overstand mean?
To understand — Rastas replace 'under' with 'over' to avoid negative connotations, so one rises to knowledge rather than standing under it.
"Yuh overstand wah mi a seh?"
Origin
Rastafarian 'Iyaric' reworking of English 'understand'.
Frequently asked questions
What does overstand mean?
It simply means to understand; Rastas swap 'under' for 'over' so that gaining knowledge means rising above rather than standing beneath.
Why do Rastas say overstand instead of understand?
They reject the 'under' in understand as implying subordination, so they replace it with 'over' to reflect elevation and empowerment.
Is overstand real Rasta language?
Yes, it is a classic example of Iyaric or 'dread talk', the Rastafarian reworking of English.
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