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ap·pre·hen·sion

(ăp′rĭ-hĕnshən)

1. Fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future; dread. See Synonyms at fear.

2. The act of seizing or capturing; arrest.

3. The ability to apprehend or understand; understanding.

[Middle English apprehencioun, perception, from Old French apprehension, from Late Latin apprehēnsiō, apprehēnsiōn-, from Latin apprehēnsus, past participle of apprehendere, to seize; see APPREHEND.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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