- Understand
- Understand Un`der*stand" ([u^]n`d[~e]r*st[a^]nd"), v. t. [imp.
& p. p. {Understood} (([u^]n`d[~e]r*st[oo^]d"),), and Archaic
{Understanded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Understanding}.] [OE.
understanden, AS. understandan, literally, to stand under;
cf. AS. forstandan to understand, G. verstehen. The
development of sense is not clear. See {Under}, and {Stand}.]
1. To have just and adequate ideas of; to apprehended the
meaning or intention of; to have knowledge of; to
comprehend; to know; as, to understand a problem in
Euclid; to understand a proposition or a declaration; the
court understands the advocate or his argument; to
understand the sacred oracles; to understand a nod or a
wink.
[1913 Webster]
Speaketh [i. e., speak thou] so plain at this time, I you pray, That we may understande what ye say. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
I understand not what you mean by this. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Understood not all was but a show. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
A tongue not understanded of the people. --Bk. of Com. Prayer. [1913 Webster]
2. To be apprised, or have information, of; to learn; to be informed of; to hear; as, I understand that Congress has passed the bill. [1913 Webster]
3. To recognize or hold as being or signifying; to suppose to mean; to interpret; to explain. [1913 Webster]
The most learned interpreters understood the words of sin, and not of Abel. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
4. To mean without expressing; to imply tacitly; to take for granted; to assume. [1913 Webster]
War, then, war, Open or understood, must be resolved. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
5. To stand under; to support. [Jocose & R.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
{To give one to understand}, to cause one to know.
{To make one's self understood}, to make one's meaning clear. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
