understand

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English understanden, from Old English understandan (“to understand”), from Proto-Germanic *under (“between”) + *standaną (“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.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA: /ˌʌndə(ɹ)ˈstænd/, enPR: ŭn′-də(r)-stănd', X-SAMPA: /%Vnd@(r\)"st{nd/
  • Audio (UK)
    		(file)
  • Audio (US)
    		(file)
  • Rhymes: -ænd
  • Hyphenation: un‧der‧stand

Verb[edit]

understand (third-person singular simple present understands, present participle understanding, simple past and past participle understood)

  1. (transitive) To be aware of the meaning of.
    I understand German.
    I received your note, but I did not understand it.
  2. To believe, based on information.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess[1]:
      ‘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. […]’
    I understand that you have information for me.
  3. 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.

Usage notes[edit]

  • Objects: text, word, sentence, note, etc.

Synonyms[edit]

Antonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

to be aware of the meaning of
to believe, based on information
to impute meaning, character etc. that is not explicitly stated
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

Statistics[edit]

Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=understand&oldid=21160556"