apprehend

apprehend
apprehend 1 *arrest, detain, attach
Analogous words: seize, *take: capture, *catch
Contrasted words: release, discharge, liberate, *free
2 Apprehend, comprehend mean to lay hold of something with the mind so as to know it but together with their derivative nouns apprehension and comprehension are clearly distinguished in psychological use.
Apprehend and apprehension do not imply attainment of full knowledge or of complete understanding but only a glimpsing of the nature, meaning, or significance of the object of thought; comprehend (see also UNDERSTAND) and comprehension imply an understanding of the object of thought in its entire compass and extent. Apprehend may suggest a single act of the mind and comprehend a complex and laborious process, but this distinction is not so essential as that between imperfect and perfect understanding; thus, one apprehends many things (as infinity or beauty) which one can never comprehend; one apprehends many things as a child (as mother love) which one does not comprehend until late in life
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who shall say how quickly the babe apprehends the relation between the causative howl and its effect, the demanded ministration?— Grandgent

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the thirteenth century which cared little to comprehend anything except the incomprehensible— Henry Adams

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Analogous words: *understand, appreciate: grasp (see TAKE 1): perceive, observe, notice, note (see SEE)
3 divine, anticipate, *foresee, foreknow
Analogous words: fear, dread (see corresponding nouns at FEAR): forecast, predict, forebode, *foretell

New Dictionary of Synonyms. 2014.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Apprehend — Ap pre*hend ([a^]p pr[ e]*h[e^]nd ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Apprehended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Apprehending}.] [L. apprehendere; ad + prehendere to lay hold of, seize; prae before + hendere (used only in comp.); akin to Gr. chanda nein to hold, contain …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • apprehend — apprehend, comprehend In the meanings in which they overlap, these two words denote slightly different aspects of understanding. Apprehend means to grasp or perceive a general idea or concept, whereas comprehend means to understand an argument or …   Modern English usage

  • Apprehend — Ap pre*hend , v. i. 1. To think, believe, or be of opinion; to understand; to suppose. [1913 Webster] 2. To be apprehensive; to fear. [1913 Webster] It is worse to apprehend than to suffer. Rowe. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • apprehend — ap·pre·hend /ˌa prə hend/ vt [Latin apprehendere to seize, arrest, from ad to + prehendere to seize]: arrest Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • apprehend — [v1] catch and arrest bag*, bust*, capture, collar, cop*, grab, nab, nail*, place under arrest, run in, seize, take in, take into custody, take prisoner; concepts 90,191,317 Ant. lose, not catch apprehend [v2] understand absorb, accept,… …   New thesaurus

  • apprehend — (v.) mid 14c., to grasp in the senses or mind, from O.Fr. aprendre (12c.) teach; learn; take, grasp; acquire, or directly from L. apprehendere to take hold of, grasp, from ad to + prehendere to seize (see PREHENSILE (Cf. prehensile)). Metaphoric… …   Etymology dictionary

  • apprehend — ► VERB 1) intercept in the course of unlawful or wrongful action. 2) seize or arrest. 3) understand; perceive. 4) archaic anticipate with fear or unease. ORIGIN Latin apprehendere, from prehendere lay hold of …   English terms dictionary

  • apprehend — [ap΄rē hend′, ap΄rihend′] vt. [ME apprehenden < LL apprehendere, to understand < L, to take hold of < ad , to + prehendere: see PREHENSILE] 1. to take into custody; capture or arrest 2. to take hold of mentally; perceive; understand 3.… …   English World dictionary

  • apprehend — ap|pre|hend [ˌæprıˈhend] v [T] [Date: 1300 1400; : Latin; Origin: apprehendere to take hold of , from ad to + prehendere to seize ] 1.) formal if the police apprehend a criminal, they catch him or her = ↑arrest ▪ The police have failed to… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • apprehend — [[t]æ̱prɪhe̱nd[/t]] apprehends, apprehending, apprehended 1) VERB If the police apprehend someone, they catch them and arrest them. [FORMAL] [V n] Police have not apprehended her killer. Syn: catch 2) VERB If you apprehend something, you… …   English dictionary

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