@laskern
Understand is from the Old English ‘understandan’
Old English understandan “comprehend, grasp the idea of,” probably literally “stand in the midst of,” from under + standan “to stand” (see stand (v.)). If this is the meaning, the under is not the usual word meaning “beneath,” but from Old English under, from PIE *nter- “between, among” (source also of Sanskrit antar “among, between,” Latin inter “between, among,” Greek entera “intestines;” see inter-). Related: Understood; understanding.
It is one of the 60% of English words not having Germanic origin, thus the lack of a match with the German verstehen
SO, if sitting under or standing over or amongst the latkes I prefer them with applesauce