Understand
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˌʌndÉ™(ɹ)ˈstænd/, enPR: Ån′-dÉ™(r)-stănd'
- GenAm IPA: ˌʌndəɹˈsteənd
- Ireland IPA: ˌɞndəɹˈstand
- Rhymes: -ænd
- Hyphenation: un + der + stand
Alternative forms
- understaund obsolete
Origin
From Middle English understanden, from Old English understandan ("to understand"), from Proto-Germanic *under ("between") + *standanÄ… ("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.
Full definition of understand
Verb
- (transitive) To be aware of the meaning of.I understand German.I received your note, but I did not understand it.
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616)I understand not what you mean by this.
- 2013-06-14, Sam Leith, Where the profound meets the profane, Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths.
- To believe, based on information.I understand that you have information for me.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter Foreword, ‘I understand that the district was considered a sort of sanctuary,’ the Chief was saying. ‘An Alsatia like the ancient one behind the Strand, or the Saffron Hill before the First World War. …’
- 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.
- John Locke (1632-1705)The most learned interpreters understood the words of sin, and not of Abel.
- 1893, Walter Besant, The Ivory Gate Chapter Prologue, Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.
- (obsolete, rare, humorous) To stand under; to support.
Usage notes
Objects: text, word, sentence, note, etc.
Synonyms
- (to know the meaning) apprehend, comprehend, grasp, know, perceive, pick up what someone is putting down, realise, grok
- (to believe) believe