comprehend

One entry found for comprehend.

Main Entry: com·pre·hend
Pronunciation: "käm-pri-'hend, -prE-
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French comprendre, comprehendre, from Latin comprehendere, from com- + prehendere to grasp -- more at GET
1 : to grasp the nature, significance, or meaning of <unable to comprehend what has happened>
2 : to contain or hold within a total scope, significance, or amount <philosophy's scope comprehends the truth of everything which man may understand -- H. O. Taylor>
3 : to include by construction or implication <does not prudence comprehend all the virtues? -- Thomas B. Silver>
synonym see UNDERSTAND, INCLUDE
- com·pre·hend·ible /-'hen-d&-b&l/ adjective