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Webster 1913 Edition


Comprehension

Comˊpre-hen′sion

,
Noun.
[L.
comprehensio
: cf. F.
compréhension
.]
1.
The act of comprehending, containing, or comprising; inclusion.
In the Old Testament there is a close
comprehension
of the New; in the New, an open discovery of the Old.
Hooker.
2.
That which is comprehended or inclosed within narrow limits; a summary; an epitome.
[Obs.]
Though not a catalogue of fundamentals, yet . . . a
comprehension
of them.
Chillingworth.
3.
The capacity of the mind to perceive and understand; the power, act, or process of grasping with the intellect; perception; understanding;
as, a
comprehension
of abstract principles
.
4.
(Logic)
The complement of attributes which make up the notion signified by a general term.
5.
(Rhet.)
A figure by which the name of a whole is put for a part, or that of a part for a whole, or a definite number for an indefinite.

Webster 1828 Edition


Comprehension

COMPREHENSION

, n.
1.
The act or quality of comprehending, or containing; a comprising.
In the Old Testament there is a close comprehension of the New; in the New, an open discovery of the Old.
2.
An including or containing within a narrow compass; a summary; an epitome or compend.
This wise and religious aphorism in the text, is the sum and comprehension of all the ingredients of human happiness.
3.
Capacity of the mind to understand; power of the understanding to receive and contain ideas; capacity of knowing.
The nature of spirit is not within our comprehension.
4.
In rhetoric, a grope or figure, by which the name of a whole is put for a part, or that of a part for a whole, or a definite number for an indefinite.

Definition 2024


comprehension

comprehension

English

Noun

comprehension (plural comprehensions)

  1. thorough understanding
  2. (logic) The totality of intensions, that is, attributes, characters, marks, properties, or qualities, that the object possesses, or else the totality of intensions that are pertinent to the context of a given discussion.
  3. (computing) a compact syntax for generating a list in some functional programming languages

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