English
comprehension
Comprehension comes from Latin comprehēnsiō ‘taking together’, from prehendō ‘take’, 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 CEprehendō‘take’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcomprehendō
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcomprehēnsiō‘taking together’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600compréhension
- Englishearliest quotation 1949comprehension
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 CEprehendō‘take’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcomprehendō
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcomprehēnsiō‘taking together’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600compréhension
- Englishearliest quotation 1949comprehension
Earliest quotation: 1949, F. A. Hayek, The Intellectuals and Socialism: “What appeal to him are the broad visions, the…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- ‘to find’
yet, guess, prey, predator, reprieve, apprehend, predation, beget, impregnable, prehensile, 33 more
through Proto-Italic *praiɣendō
prisoner, imprison, impresario, 15 more
through Latin prehendō ‘take’
surprise, prison, prize, apprentice, apprehensive, reprehensible, apprehension, 17 more
Today it means
noun A thorough understanding.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- / comprehension