understand
English
/(ˌ)ʌndəˈstænd/, /ˌʌndɚˈstænd/, /ˌɞndəɹˈstand/
verb
Definitions
- (transitive) To grasp a concept fully and thoroughly, especially (of words, statements, art, etc.) to be aware of the meaning of and (of people) to be aware of the intent of.
- To believe, to think one grasps sufficiently despite potentially incomplete knowledge.
- (humorous) To stand underneath, to support.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English understanden inherited from Old English understandan (understand) derived from Proto-Germanic *under (between, under).
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*under
Gloss
between, under
Concept
Semantic Field
Spatial relations
Ontological Category
Other
Kanji
間
Emoji
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- misunderstand English
- misunderstandable English
- misunderstander English
- misunderstandest English
- misunderstandeth English
- nonunderstandable English
- reunderstand English
- understandability English
- understandable English
- understandableness English
- understandably English
- understander English
- understandest English
- understandeth English
- ununderstandable English
- inter Latin
- stehen German
- unterstehen German
- *nter- Proto-Indo-European
- *n̥dʰér Proto-Indo-European
- *n̥tér Proto-Indo-European
- *under Proto-Germanic
- *understandaną Proto-Germanic
- standan Old English
- under Old English
- under- Old English
- undercuman Old English
- underdōn Old English
- underfōn Old English
- understandan Old English
- under- Middle English
- understanden Middle English
- understander Middle English
- understondable Middle English
- undir Old Norse
- ontre Galician
- untar Old High German
- 𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌰𐍂 Gothic
- under Old Dutch
- un Chinese
- undar Old Saxon
- undar- Old Saxon
- under Old Frisian