from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Understand \Un`der*stand"\ ([u^]n`d[~e]r*st[a^]nd"), v. t. [imp.
& p. p. {Understood} ([u^]n`d[~e]r*st[oo^]d"), and Archaic
{Understanded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Understanding}.] [OE.
understanden, AS. understandan, literally, to stand under;
cf. AS. forstandan to understand, G. verstehen. The
development of sense is not clear. See {Under}, and {Stand}.]
1. To have just and adequate ideas of; to apprehended the
meaning or intention of; to have knowledge of; to
comprehend; to know; as, to understand a problem in
Euclid; to understand a proposition or a declaration; the
court understands the advocate or his argument; to
understand the sacred oracles; to understand a nod or a
wink.
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Speaketh [i. e., speak thou] so plain at this time,
I you pray,
That we may understande what ye say. --Chaucer.
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I understand not what you mean by this. --Shak.
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Understood not all was but a show. --Milton.
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A tongue not understanded of the people. --Bk. of
Com. Prayer.
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2. To be apprised, or have information, of; to learn; to be
informed of; to hear; as, I understand that Congress has
passed the bill.
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3. To recognize or hold as being or signifying; to suppose to
mean; to interpret; to explain.
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The most learned interpreters understood the words
of sin, and not of Abel. --Locke.
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4. To mean without expressing; to imply tacitly; to take for
granted; to assume.
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War, then, war,
Open or understood, must be resolved. --Milton.
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5. To stand under; to support. [Jocose & R.] --Shak.
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{To give one to understand}, to cause one to know.
{To make one's self understood}, to make one's meaning clear.
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