understand English · revision 2490

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=888 (Old English understandan)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌʌn.dəˈstænd/, US /ˌʌn.dɚˈstænd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|understanden]], [[inh|ang|understandan|t=to comprehend, grasp the idea of]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) a compound, [[af|ang|under-|standan|t2=to stand]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) Barnhart takes it literally as “to stand in the midst of, stand between”, with Old English [[m|ang|under]] in the sense “among, between”, from [[ine-pro|*nter-|t=between, among]], related to [[la|inter]];^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) other sources treat “among” as a sense of the ordinary ''under''.^(Etymonline) Liberman notes that the Old English prefix meant both “under” and “between, among”, that ''understandan'' competed with [[m|ang|forstandan]], [[m|ang|undergietan]] and other verbs of the same meaning, and that it may have arisen as a blend of these two.^(Liberman 2008) Similar verbs are [[ofs|understonda]] and, with another prefix, [[de|verstehen]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) and Greek [[m|grc|ἐπίσταμαι|tr=epístamai|t=I know how, I understand]], literally “I stand upon”.^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To comprehend, grasp the meaning of: Old English ''understandan'', 888 according to Liberman^(Liberman 2008) or before 899 according to Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Liberman notes that only the West Germanic languages have such verbs among the Germanic family, all based on the image of standing in a position from which one comes to know a thing;^(Liberman 2008) in Frisian, Dutch and German the rival compound with ''for-'' won out.^(Liberman 2008) In Middle English [[undertake]] could also mean “to accept, understand”.^(Etymonline) ''Understanding'' is recorded from the 11th century.^(Hoad 1986) The sense “to take as meant or implied” dates from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) In the 16th and 17th centuries the past participle had various forms, such as ''understanden'' and ''understanded'', before ''understood'', matching ''stood'', became usual by 1600.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 888 – Old English ''understandan''.^(Liberman 2008)

+ * 11th century – ''understanding''.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 16th century – to take as implied.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * c. 1600 – ''understood'' becomes the usual participle.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To grasp the nature, meaning or significance of; to [[comprehend]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To know thoroughly through long experience: ''understands children''.^(AHD)

+ # To grasp the language, sounds or symbols of.^(AHD)

+ # To be sympathetic or tolerant toward.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To learn indirectly; to [[gather]]: ''I understand that she has left''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To take as meant or implied; to supply mentally.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[understandability]]

+ * [[understandable]]

+ * [[understandably]]

+ * [[understanding]]

+ * [[understood]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stand]]

+ * [[under]]

+ * [[undertake]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}