apprehend
apprehend Lexical Profile
apprehend Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To arrest or seize someone for a crime or legal offense (especially of police or legal authorities).
"Local authorities managed to apprehend the suspect near the train station shortly after the burglary."
To understand, perceive, or grasp the meaning or nature of something mentally.
"It took the students a moment to fully apprehend the ethical implications of the historical treaty."
To anticipate or look forward to something with anxiety, dread, or fear (used in formal or literary contexts).
"The coastal residents had reason to apprehend further damage as the storm tide rose."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'apprehend' and 'comprehend' both share the sense of understanding, 'apprehend' implies grasping or perceiving an idea initially or intuitively, whereas 'comprehend' implies a complete, thorough mental mastery of a subject.
• Rhymes for apprehend
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French 'aprehendre' or directly from Latin 'apprehendere' ('to take hold of, seize'), formed from 'ad-' ('to, toward') and 'prehendere' ('to seize, grasp').