comprehension

B2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnʃn̩/ UK /ˌkɒmpɹɪˈhɛnʃn̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #22509

Meanings

1

noun
the ability to understand something

How anyone could be so cruel is beyond my comprehension.
2

noun
an exercise that tests how well you understand a text you have read or heard

For homework we had a reading comprehension about climate change.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

understanding

Word family

Forms comprehensions

Derived forms incomprehensionintercomprehensionmiscomprehensionnoncomprehensionuncomprehension

Related forms comprehendcomprehensibilitycomprehensible comprehensive comprehensiveness

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French compréhension, from Latin comprehensiō (“taking together”), from com- (“with, together”) + prehendō (“take”).

*gʰed- Proto-Indo-European compréhension Middle French comprehensiō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# comprehension

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnʃn̩/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌkɒmpɹɪˈhɛnʃn̩/
**Frequency rank:** 22509

## Meanings
1. the ability to understand something
2. an exercise that tests how well you understand a text you have read or heard

## Examples
- How anyone could be so cruel is beyond my comprehension.
- For homework we had a reading comprehension about climate change.

## Synonyms
- understanding

## Derived Forms
- incomprehension
- intercomprehension
- miscomprehension
- noncomprehension
- uncomprehension

## Related Forms
- comprehend
- comprehensibility
- comprehensible
- comprehensive
- comprehensiveness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *gʰed-
- Root: compréhension
- Root: comprehensiō

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French compréhension, from Latin comprehensiō (“taking together”), from com- (“with, together”) + prehendō (“take”).

## AI Etymology
comprehension is a noun. It was borrowed from Middle French compréhension, from Latin comprehensiō (“taking together”), from com- (“with, together”) + prehendō (“take”). Historical forms in the chain include *gʰed- (Proto-Indo-European), compréhension (Middle French), and comprehensiō (Latin). Current senses include the ability to understand something and an exercise that tests how well you understand a text you have read or heard. Derived forms include incomprehension, intercomprehension, miscomprehension, noncomprehension, and uncomprehension. Related words include comprehend, comprehensibility, comprehensible, and comprehensive.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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