comprehend

The story

1. Latin · derived fromcomprehendere“to grasp”
2. Middle English · inherited fromcomprehenden
3. English todaycomprehend

From Middle English comprehenden, from Latin comprehendere (“to grasp”), from the prefix com- + prehendere (“to seize”). Doublet of comprend.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. To understand or grasp fully and thoroughly; to plumb.
• from 14th c. To include, comprise; to contain.