apprehend

[ ap-ri-hend ]

verb (used with object)

1. to take into custody; arrest by legal warrant or authority:

   The police apprehended the burglars.

2. to grasp the meaning of; understand, especially intuitively; perceive.
3. to expect with anxiety, suspicion, or fear; anticipate:

   apprehending violence.

verb (used without object)

1. to understand.
2. to be apprehensive, suspicious, or fearful; fear.

apprehend

/ ˌæprɪˈhɛnd /

verb

1. tr to arrest and escort into custody; seize
2. to perceive or grasp mentally; understand
3. tr to await with fear or anxiety; dread

Other Words From

• appre·hender noun
• reap·pre·hend verb
• unap·pre·hended adjective
• unap·pre·hending adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of apprehend¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English apprehenden, from Latin apprehendere “to grasp,” from ap- ap- ¹ + prehendere “to seize” (from pre-, prae- pre- + -hendere “to grasp”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of apprehend¹

C14: from Latin apprehendere to lay hold of

Example Sentences

Somebody yanks Chan and elbows him and he is momentarily distracted trying to apprehend his assailant.

From The Daily Beast

In the script I worked on, a man pursues a woman in order to apprehend her husband.

From The Daily Beast

As the OSS pieced together the Operation Bernhard network, it made plans to apprehend those participants not already in custody.

From The Daily Beast

Boya Dee live-tweeted the moments after the attack when police arrived to apprehend the suspects—injuring both.

From The Daily Beast

Finally, even if the court did decide to pursue charges, it would be unable to apprehend wanted suspects.

From The Daily Beast

She began to look with her own eyes; to see and to apprehend the deeper undercurrents of life.

From Project Gutenberg

Angels have a constitution which distinguishes them from man, yet with him they apprehend the authority of the one moral law.

From Project Gutenberg

Though Richard could not fail to apprehend the implied dismissal, he was minded at first to disregard it.

From Project Gutenberg

He had his uncle's revolver with him, but there was little reason to apprehend danger from wild beasts.

From Project Gutenberg

A God who enjoys a power which nothing in the world can resist, can He apprehend that His intentions could be thwarted?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bust
• capture
• seize