comprehend

comprehend
com|pre|hend [ˌkɔmprıˈhend US ˌka:m-] v [I,T not in progressive]
[Date: 1300-1400; : Latin; Origin: comprehendere 'to take hold of completely', from com- ( COM-) + prehendere ( PREHENSILE)]
to understand something that is complicated or difficult
= ↑understand, grasp ↑grasp
She cannot comprehend the extent of the disaster.
I did not fully comprehend what had happened.
comprehend what/how/why etc
It may be hard to comprehend how much this gift means for my country.
comprehend that
Finally, she comprehended that he wanted his pay.
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HINT sense 1
In spoken English and ordinary written English, it is more usual to use understand.
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Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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  • Comprehend — Com pre*hend , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Comprehended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Comprehending}.] [L. comprehendere, comprehensum; com + prehendere to grasp, seize; prae before + hendere (used only in comp.). See {Get}, and cf. {Comprise}.] 1. To contain; to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • comprehend — I (include) verb be composed of, be comprised of, be made up of, circumscribe, compass, comprise, consist of, constitute, contain, cover, embody, embrace, encircle, encompass, envelop, incorporate, involve, possess, span, take in associated… …   Law dictionary

  • comprehend — (v.) mid 14c., to understand, from L. comprehendere to take together, to unite; include; seize (of catching fire or the arrest of criminals); also to comprehend, perceive (to seize or take in the mind), from com completely (see COM (Cf. com )) +… …   Etymology dictionary

  • comprehend — 1 *understand, appreciate Analogous words: seize, grasp (see TAKE): conceive, envisage, envision (see THINK) 2 *apprehend Analogous words: see those at COMPREHEND 1 3 embrace, involve, * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • comprehend — [v1] understand appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, capiche*, catch, click, cognize, conceive, dig*, discern, envisage, envision, fathom, get*, get the picture*, gotcha*, grasp, have, know, make out*, perceive, read, savvy*, see, take in, tumble*; …   New thesaurus

  • comprehend — ► VERB 1) grasp mentally; understand. 2) formal include or encompass. ORIGIN Latin comprehendere, from prehendere to grasp …   English terms dictionary

  • comprehend — [käm΄prē hend′, käm΄prihend΄] vt. [ME comprehenden < L comprehendere < com , with + prehendere, to catch hold of, seize: see PREHENSILE] 1. to grasp mentally; understand 2. to include; take in; comprise SYN. INCLUDE, UNDERSTAND… …   English World dictionary

  • comprehend — 01. It s difficult to [comprehend] what would make two high school boys do such a terrible thing. 02. She talks to everyone she can, every chance she gets, so her listening [comprehension] has really improved. 03. We need to do a [comprehensive]… …   Grammatical examples in English

  • comprehend — UK [ˌkɒmprɪˈhend] / US [ˌkɑmprəˈhend] verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms comprehend : present tense I/you/we/they comprehend he/she/it comprehends present participle comprehending past tense comprehended past participle comprehended formal …   English dictionary

  • comprehend — verb ADVERB ▪ fully ▪ barely ▪ She could barely comprehend what was happening to her. ▪ easily VERB + COMPREHEND ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

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