understand

Verb
Synonyms: realizerealiseseereadinterprettranslateinfersympathizesympathiseempathizeempathise

WordNet 3.0

Verb (5)

  1. know and comprehend the nature or meaning of“She did not understand her husband”“I understand what she means”
  2. perceive (an idea or situation) mentally“Now I see!”“I just can't see your point”“Does she realize how important this decision is?”“I don't understand the idea”Synonyms: realizerealisesee
  3. make sense of a language“She understands French”“Can you read Greek?”Synonyms: readinterprettranslate
  4. believe to be the case“I understand you have no previous experience?”Synonyms: infer
  5. be understanding of“You don't need to explain--I understand!”Synonyms: sympathizesympathiseempathizeempathise
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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]

Understand \Un`der*stand"\, v. i.

1.To have the use of the intellectual faculties; to be an intelligent being. [1913 Webster]

Imparadised in you, in whom alone I understand, and grow, and see.— Donne.[1913 Webster]

2.To be informed; to have or receive knowledge. [1913 Webster]

I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah.— Neh. xiii. 7.[1913 Webster]
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