English
apprehend
Apprehend comes from Old French apprehender, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- ‘to find’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰed-‘to find’root as named · steps between not traced
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400apprehender
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500apprehenden‘to grasp, take hold of’
- Englishearliest quotation 1531apprehend
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰed-‘to find’root as named · steps between not traced
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400apprehender
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500apprehenden‘to grasp, take hold of’
- Englishearliest quotation 1531apprehend
Earliest quotation: 1531, Thomas Elyot, Of Pacience Deserued in Repulse, or Hynderaunce of Promocion: “Undowghtedly in a prince or noble man may be…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- ‘to find’
yet, guess, prison, surprise, prize, comprehensive, prey, comprise, predator, apprentice, comprehension, comprehend, predation, reprieve, beget, impregnable, reprehensible, impresario, prehensile, 34 more
Today it means
verb To be or become aware of (something); to perceive.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- / apprehend