understanding

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Knowledge of how something works or what it means.

   She has a solid understanding of particle physics.

2. 2
   noun

   An informal agreement between people.

   We have an understanding: you cook and I clean.

3. 3
   adj

   Kind and sympathetic toward other people's feelings.

   My boss was very understanding when I needed time off.

4. 4
   noun

   Sympathy or kindness toward someone's situation.

   He showed much understanding for my problems.

From Middle English understandyng, understondynge, understondinde, undirstondend, understandande, from Old English understandende, from Proto-West Germanic *undarstandandī, from Proto-Germanic *understandandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *understandaną (“to stand between, intercede, understand”), equivalent to understand + -ing (present participle ending).

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