Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Apprehend
Apˊpre-hend′
(ăpˊprē̍-hĕnd′)
, Verb.
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. χανδάνειν
to hold, contain, and E. get
: cf. F. appréhender
. See Prehensile
, Get
.] 1.
To take or seize; to take hold of.
[Archaic]
We have two hands to
apprehend
it. Jer. Taylor.
2.
Hence: To take or seize (a person) by legal process; to arrest;
as, to
. apprehend
a criminal3.
To take hold of with the understanding, that is, to conceive in the mind; to become cognizant of; to understand; to recognize; to consider.
This suspicion of Earl Reimund, though at first but a buzz, soon got a sting in the king’s head, and he violently
apprehended
it. Fuller.
The eternal laws, such as the heroic age
apprehended
them. Gladstone.
4.
To know or learn with certainty.
[Obs.]
G.
You are too much distrustful of my truth.E.
Then you must give me leave to apprehend
The means and manner how.
Beau. & Fl.
5.
To anticipate; esp., to anticipate with anxiety, dread, or fear; to fear.
The opposition had more reason than the king to
apprehend
violence. Macaulay.
Syn. – To catch; seize; arrest; detain; capture; conceive; understand; imagine; believe; fear; dread.
– To
Apprehend
, Comprehend
. These words come into comparison as describing acts of the mind. Apprehend denotes the laying hold of a thing mentally, so as to understand it clearly, at least in part. Comprehend denotes the embracing or understanding it in all its compass and extent. We may apprehended many truths which we do not comprehend. The very idea of God supposes that he may be apprehended, though not comprehended, by rational beings. “We may apprehended much of Shakespeare's aim and intention in the character of Hamlet or King Lear; but few will claim that they have comprehended all that is embraced in these characters.” Trench.
Apˊpre-hend′
,Verb.
I.
1.
To think, believe, or be of opinion; to understand; to suppose.
2.
To be apprehensive; to fear.
It is worse to
apprehend
than to suffer. Rowe.
Webster 1828 Edition
Apprehend
APPREHEND'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To take or seize; to take hold of. In this literal sense, it is applied chiefly to taking or arresting persons by legal process, or with a view to trial; as to apprehend a thief.2.
To take with the understanding, that is, to conceive in the mine; to understand, without passing a judgment, or making an inference.I apprehend not why so many and various laws are given.
3.
To think; to believe or be of opinion, but without positive certainty; as, all this is true, but we apprehend it is not to the purpose.Notwithstanding this declaration, we do not apprehend that we are guilty of presumption.
4.
To fear; to entertain suspicion or fear of future evil; as, we apprehend calamities from a feeble or wicked administration.