Etymologically
Log in

deprehendo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word deprehendo

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

Pronunciation

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

Forms

dēprehendō (present infinitive dēprehendere, perfect active dēprehendī, supine dēprehēnsum); third conjugation[1] The contracted dēprendō is usual in verse for the metre.[2]

Etymology

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

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of catching someone.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to come upon suddenly and seize, catch, as in Plautus, and in Pliny the Elder to come upon, surprise.[2] In Cicero it meant to find something, in Ovid to detect, recognize, and in Livy of events to overtake.[2] Döderlein explains that invenīre is to find in general, while reperīre and dēprehendere suppose that the thing was hidden.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to perceive, find, seize.[5] It was borrowed into Spanish deprehender and English deprehend.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of catching.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of finding.[2][3]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of detecting.[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To catch, seize.[2]
  2. To come upon, surprise.[2]
  3. To find.[2]
  4. To detect, recognize.[2]
  5. To overtake.[2]

Word family

  • dēprehēnsiō
  • dēprensa
  • indēprēnsus
  • dēprehēnsus

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from inveniō and reperiō.[4]

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 m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Deprehendo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/deprehendo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·