apprehending
|ap-pre-hend-ing|
/ˌæprɪˈhɛnd/
(apprehend)
seize or understand
Etymology
'apprehend' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'apprehendere', where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'prehendere' meant 'to grasp'.
'apprehendere' changed into Old French 'aprehender' and then into Middle English 'apprehenden', eventually becoming the modern English word 'apprehend'.
Initially it meant 'to seize or take hold of', but over time it expanded to include 'to arrest' and 'to understand'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
arresting or taking into custody (present participle of 'apprehend').
The police are apprehending the suspect near the station.
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Verb 2
grasping or understanding mentally; perceiving (present participle of 'apprehend').
She is apprehending the poem's deeper meaning for the first time.
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Last updated: 2025/09/26 23:02