Understand Definition
understand
Contents |
English
Alternative forms
- understaund (obsolete)
Etymology
From Middle English understanden, from Old English understandan (“to understand”), from Proto-Germanic *under (“between”) + *standanan (“to stand”), equivalent to Old English under- (“between, inter-”) + standan (“to stand”). Cognate with Eastern Frisian understunda (“to understand”), Old High German understantan (“to understand”), Middle Danish understande (“to understand”). Compare also Dutch onderstaan (“to undertake, presume”), German unterstehen (“to be subordinate”). More at inter-, stand.
Pronunciation
- enPR: ŭn"də(r)-stănd', IPA: /ˌʌn.də(r)ˈstænd/, SAMPA: /%Vnd@(r)"st{nd/
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Audio (US) (file) -
Audio (UK) (file) - Rhymes: -ænd
- Hyphenation: un‧der‧stand
Verb
understand (third-person singular simple present understands, present participle understanding, simple past and past participle understood)
- (transitive) To be aware of the meaning of.
- I understand German.
- I received your note, but I did not understand it.
- To believe, based on information.
- I understand that you have information for me.
- To impute meaning, character etc. that is not explicitly stated.
- But we cannot disappoint Grandma and Grandpa Smith, and that is what family is all about! Do you understand?!
- In this sense, the word is usually used in the past participle:
- In the imperative mood, the word “you” is usually understood.
- (Should we delete(+) this sense?) To apply values (axioms).
Usage notes
- Objects: text, word, sentence, note, etc.
Synonyms
- (to know the meaning): apprehend, comprehend, grasp, know, perceive, realise, grok
- (to believe): believe
Antonyms
Derived terms
See also
External links
- understand in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- understand in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
Statistics
- Most common English words before 1923: fear · evening · ground · #429: understand · fine · law · show
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