noun
standish
Standish (noun) means a stand or holder for pens, ink, and other writing tools, once common on desks before modern pens existed. Example: “The antique shop displayed a silver standish that once sat on a Victorian writing desk.”
noun
1
A stand or holder for pens, ink, and other writing tools, once common on desks before modern pens existed.
"The antique shop displayed a silver standish that once sat on a Victorian writing desk."
"She inherited her grandfather's brass standish, complete with its original glass inkwell."
How to use standish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned desk stand for holding pens and ink.
Memory tip
You will mostly meet this word in descriptions of antique furniture or historical fiction, not in everyday speech.
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Word forms
- Plural
- standishes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The antique shop displayed a silver _____ that once sat on a Victorian writing desk.
Etymology
From Middle English standisshe, likely built from "stand" plus a suffix, describing an object that holds writing tools upright on a desk.
Rhymes for standish
See all rhymes for standish →Frequently asked questions
What does “standish” mean?
The word “standish” means a stand or holder for pens, ink, and other writing tools, once common on desks before modern pens existed. In plain terms, an old-fashioned desk stand for holding pens and ink.
How do you use “standish” in a sentence?
Here is “standish” used in a sentence: “The antique shop displayed a silver standish that once sat on a Victorian writing desk.”
What part of speech is “standish”?
“Standish” is a noun.
Where does the word “standish” come from?
The word “standish” comes from Middle English. From Middle English standisshe, likely built from "stand" plus a suffix, describing an object that holds writing tools upright on a desk.
