apprehends
|ap-pre-hend|
/ˌæprɪˈhɛnd/
(apprehend)
seize or understand
Etymology
'apprehend' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'apprehendere', where 'ad-' meant 'to, toward' and 'prehendere' meant 'to seize or grasp'.
'apprehend' changed from Latin 'apprehendere' into Old French forms (e.g. 'aprehendre') and entered Middle English as 'apprehenden', eventually becoming modern English 'apprehend'.
Initially, it meant 'to seize or take hold of', and over time it developed additional senses such as 'to grasp mentally' and 'to apprehend with anxiety'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to seize or arrest (someone); to take into custody
The police apprehends the suspect after a short chase.
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Verb 2
to grasp or understand mentally; to comprehend
She apprehends complex theories more quickly than most students.
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Verb 3
to anticipate with anxiety or fear; to be uneasy about a future event
He apprehends the results of the exam even though he prepared well.
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Last updated: 2025/09/26 23:30