verb (used with object) to take into custody; arrest by legal warrant or authority: The police apprehended the burglars.
to grasp the meaning of; understand, especially intuitively; perceive.
to expect with anxiety, suspicion, or fear; anticipate: apprehending violence.
verb (used without object) Origin of apprehend 1350–1400; Middle English apprehenden <
Latin apprehendere to grasp, equivalent to
ap- ap-1 +
prehendere to seize (
pre- pre- +
-hendere to grasp)
Related forms ap·pre·hend·er , noun re·ap·pre·hend , verb un·ap·pre·hend·ed , adjective un·ap·pre·hend·ing , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for apprehend capture ,
bust ,
seize ,
catch ,
believe ,
nab ,
cop ,
nail ,
bag ,
grab ,
collar ,
realize ,
get ,
read ,
absorb ,
conceive ,
imagine ,
appreciate ,
fathom ,
perceive Examples from the Web for apprehend Contemporary Examples of apprehend Somebody yanks Chan and elbows him and he is momentarily distracted trying to apprehend his assailant.
In the script I worked on, a man pursues a woman in order to apprehend her husband.
As the OSS pieced together the Operation Bernhard network, it made plans to apprehend those participants not already in custody.
Boya Dee live-tweeted the moments after the attack when police arrived to apprehend the suspects—injuring both.
Finally, even if the court did decide to pursue charges, it would be unable to apprehend wanted suspects.
Historical Examples of apprehend And well might they apprehend so:—For who do you think he is?
Nor let any one apprehend that this subject can ever become trite and vulgar.
"Much the same, I apprehend , as to the rich," answered M'Leod.
Manifest no distrust, or you may invite the danger you appear to apprehend .
If it be for what I apprehend it to be, life will not be supportable upon the terms.
British Dictionary definitions for apprehend verb (tr) to arrest and escort into custody; seize
to perceive or grasp mentally; understand
(tr) to await with fear or anxiety; dread
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Word Origin for apprehend C14: from Latin apprehendere to lay hold of
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for apprehend v. mid-14c., "to grasp in the senses or mind," from Old French aprendre (12c.) "teach; learn; take, grasp; acquire," or directly from Latin apprehendere "to take hold of, grasp," from ad- "to" + prehendere "to seize" (see prehensile ). Metaphoric extension to "seize with the mind" took place in Latin, and was the sole sense of cognate Old French aprendre (Modern French apprendre "to learn, to be informed about;" also cf. apprentice ). Original sense returned in English in meaning "to seize in the name of the law, arrest," recorded from 1540s, which use probably was taken directly from Latin. Related: Apprehended ; apprehending .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
