English
comprehend
Comprehend comes from Latin comprehendere ‘to grasp’, from prehendō ‘to seize’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- ‘to find’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰed-‘to find’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰnédtireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*hendō‘to hold’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*praiɣendōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprehendōas prehendere‘to seize’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcomprehendere‘to grasp’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500comprehenden
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1587–1588comprehend
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰed-‘to find’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰnédtireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*hendō‘to hold’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*praiɣendōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprehendōas prehendere‘to seize’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcomprehendere‘to grasp’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500comprehenden
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1587–1588comprehend
Earliest quotation: c. 1587–1588, Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […]: “Our ſoules, whoſe faculties can comprehend The wondrous Architecture…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- ‘to find’
yet, guess, prey, predator, predation, reprieve, beget, impregnable, apprehend, prehensile, 33 more
through Proto-Italic *praiɣendō
prisoner, imprison, impresario, 15 more
through Latin prehendō ‘to seize’
prison, surprise, prize, apprentice, apprehension, apprehensive, reprehensible, 17 more
Today it means
verb To understand or grasp fully and thoroughly; to plumb.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- / comprehend