comprehend

/ˌkäm-pri-ˈhend/

Middle English, from Anglo-French comprendre, comprehendre, from Latin comprehendere, from com- + prehendere to grasp

verb

  1. to grasp the nature, significance, or meaning of

  2. to contain or hold within a total scope, significance, or amount

  3. to include by construction or implication

unable to comprehend what has happened

understand comprehend appreciate mean to have a clear or complete idea of. understand and comprehend are very often interchangeable. understand may, however, stress the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something. comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually.