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ap·pre·hen·sive

(ăp′rĭ-hĕnsĭv)

adj.

1. Anxious or fearful about the future; uneasy: was apprehensive before the surgery.

2. Archaic Capable of understanding and quick to apprehend.

ap′pre·hensive·ly adv.

ap′pre·hensive·ness n.

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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