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apprehendo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word apprehendo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (prehendō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ap.preˈ(ɦ)ɛn.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ap.preˈɛn.do][1]

Forms

apprehendō (present infinitive apprehendere, perfect active apprehendī, supine apprehēnsum); third conjugation[1] It is also spelled adprehendō and contracted apprendō, as in Plautus and Caecilius.[2]

Etymology

It is from ad- and prehendō “to seize”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The contracted form appears in Plautus and Caecilius.[2] The OLD's earliest citations for the senses are from Cicero, and Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to lay hold of, grasp, seize, and to gain possession, and to take up a subject for discussion, as in Cicero.[2] In law it meant to include in a provision.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to take hold of, seize, apprehend, embrace.[5] Its contracted form survives as French apprendre, Spanish and Portuguese aprender “to learn”, and French appris gave English apprise, and the Latin gave English apprehend in the late 14th century, first “to grasp with the senses or mind”.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the contracted form.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of seizing and taking up.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English apprehend is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To grasp, seize.[2]
  2. To gain possession of.[2]
  3. To take up (a subject).[2]
  4. To include.[2]
  5. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To apprehend; to embrace.[5]

Word family

  • apprehensibilis
  • apprehēnsiō
  • apprēnsō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Apprehendo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/apprehendo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·