understand

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

   They did not understand what I was explaining.

2. 2
   verb

   believe to be the case

   I understand you have no previous experience?

3. 3
   verb

   make sense of a language

   They understand French.

4. 4
   verb

   be understanding of

   You don't need to explain--I understand!

5. 5
   verb

   To know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend.

   Can you repeat what you just said? I didn't understand.

6. 6
   verb

   To be thoroughly familiar with; to be able to undertake properly.

   The students understood the assignment.

7. 7
   verb

   To comprehend a fact or principle; to regard or come to regard a belief as such.

   I understand that company policy says I can't get a refund, but can you make an exception?

8. 8
   verb

   To know the intent, motives or character of; (of events) to know the causes of or reasons for.

   One day you say you love me, the next you ignore me—I don't understand you!

Etymology

From Middle English understanden, from Old English understandan (“to understand”), from Proto-West Germanic *understandan (“to stand between, understand”), from Proto-Germanic *understandaną (“to stand between, understand”), equivalent to Old English under- (“between, inter-”) + standan (“to stand”) (Modern English under- + stand). Cognate with Old Frisian understonda (“to understand, experience, learn”), Old High German understantan (“to understand”), Middle Danish understande (“to understand”). Compare also Saterland Frisian understunda, unnerstounde (“to dare, survey, measure”), Dutch onder…