apprehend

Meaning

Verb

• To take or seize; to take hold of.
• To take hold of with the understanding, that is, to conceive in the mind; to become cognizant of; to understand; to recognize; to consider.
• To anticipate; especially, to anticipate with anxiety, dread, or fear; to fear.
• To think, believe, or be of opinion; to understand; to suppose.
• To be apprehensive; to fear.

Related

Similar words

• catch, seize, take hold of
• seize, detain, , capture
• dread, fear
• believe, get, understand, reckon, catch, gather

Origin

• From Middle English apprehenden, from Old French apprehender (compare modern French appréhender), from Latin apprehendere. Compare Spanish aprehender.