'apprehendable' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'apprehendere', where 'ad-' meant 'to/toward' and 'prehendere' meant 'to grasp or seize'. The adjectival suffix '-able' comes from Latin '-abilis' (via Old French), meaning 'able to be'.

'apprehendable' developed from the verb 'apprehend', which came into English from Middle English forms derived from Old French 'aprehendre' and ultimately Latin 'apprehendere'. The modern English adjective was formed by adding the suffix '-able' to 'apprehend'.

Initially, 'apprehendere' primarily meant 'to seize or take hold of' (a physical action), but over time the verb and its derivatives also acquired the sense 'to grasp mentally' (to understand); 'apprehendable' now can mean both 'able to be seized' and 'able to be understood'.