Contents
English
Most common English words: fear « evening « ground « #429: understand » fine » law » showPronunciation
- 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
Etymology
From Middle English understanden, from Old English understandan (“to understand”), from Proto-Germanic *understandanan (“to stand between or in the midst of, understand”), equivalent to Old English under- (“between”) + standan (“to stand”). Akin to Old Frisian understonda (“to understand”), Old High German understantan (“to understand”), Old Norse undirstanda (Middle Danish understande, “to understand”). Compare also Dutch onderstaan (“to undertake, presume”), German unterstehen (“to be subordinate”).
Verb
to 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.
- 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
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