apprehension
noun
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Latin Helps Build Apprehension
There’s quite a bit to comprehend about apprehension, so let’s take a closer look at its history. The Latin ancestor of apprehension (and of comprehend, prehensile, and even prison, among others) is the verb prehendere, meaning “to grasp” or “to seize.” When it was first used in the 14th century, apprehension could refer to the act of learning, a sense that is now obsolete, or the ability or power to understand things—learning and understanding both being ways to “grasp” knowledge or information. It wasn’t until the late 16th century that apprehension was used, as it still is today, for the physical seizure of something or someone (as an arrest). The most commonly used sense of apprehension today refers to a feeling that something bad is about to happen, when you seize up, perhaps, with anxiety or dread, having grasped all the unpleasant possibilities.
Examples of apprehension in a Sentence
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 4 June 2025
During the apprehension, a regional police officer suffered a minor injury.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
He has been charged with a collision involving damage to a vehicle and hindering apprehension, both misdemeanors.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2025
This discrepancy underscores the company's robust operational performance amid macroeconomic challenges, tempered by investor apprehension regarding adjusted margin and earnings projections for FY 2025.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Cite this Entry
“Apprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprehension. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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apprehension
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