understand

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understand understood

Main Entry: un·der·stand
Pronunciation: "&n-d&r-'stand
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): un·der·stood /-'stud/; -stand·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English understandan, from under + standan to stand
transitive verb
1 a : to grasp the meaning of <understand Russian> b : to grasp the reasonableness of <his behavior is hard to understand> c : to have thorough or technical acquaintance with or expertness in the practice of <understand finance> d : to be thoroughly familiar with the character and propensities of <understands children>
2 : to accept as a fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty <we understand that he is returning from abroad>
3 : to interpret in one of a number of possible ways
4 : to supply in thought as though expressed <"to be married" is commonly understood after the word engaged>
intransitive verb
1 : to have understanding : have the power of comprehension
2 : to achieve a grasp of the nature, significance, or explanation of something
3 : to believe or infer something to be the case
4 : to show a sympathetic or tolerant attitude toward something
- un·der·stand·abil·i·ty /-"stan-d&-'bi-l&-tE/ noun
- un·der·stand·able /-'stan-d&-b&l/ adjective
synonyms UNDERSTAND, COMPREHEND, APPRECIATE mean to have a clear or complete idea of. UNDERSTAND and COMPREHEND are very often interchangeable. UNDERSTAND may, however, stress the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something <orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed>. COMPREHEND may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually <I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this>. APPRECIATE implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature <failed to appreciate the risks involved>.