Main Entry: com·pre·hend

Pronunciation: \ˌkäm-pri-ˈhend, -prē-\

Function: transitive verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French comprendre, comprehendre, from Latin comprehendere, from com- + prehendere to grasp — more at get

Date: 14th century

1 : to grasp the nature, significance, or meaning of <unable to comprehend what has happened>
2 : to contain or hold within a total scope, significance, or amount <philosophy's scope comprehends the truth of everything which man may understand — H. O. Taylor>
3 : to include by construction or implication <does not prudence comprehend all the virtues? — Thomas B. Silver>

synonyms see understand, include

— com·pre·hend·ible \-ˈhen-də-bəl\ adjective