WOTD: Understand

Understand
- v.

Pronunciation
[uhn-der-STAND]

Definition

Verb WITH object:
1. to perceive the meaning of; grasp the idea of; comprehend: to understand spanish; I didn't understand your question.
2. to be thoroughly familiar with; apprehend clearly the character, nature, or subtleties of: to understand a trade.
3. to assign a meaning to; interpret: He understood her suggestion as a complaint.

Verb WITHOUT object:
4. to perceive what is meant; grasp the information conveyed: She told them about it in simple words, hoping they would understand.
5. to accept tolerantly or sympathetically: If you can't do it, I'll understand.
6. to have knowledge or background, as on a particular subject: He understands about boats.

Etymology:
O.E. understandan "comprehend, grasp the idea of," probably lit. "stand in the midst of," from under + standan "to stand" (see stand). If this is the meaning, the under is not the usual word meaning "beneath," but from O.E. under, from PIE *nter- "between, among" (cf. Skt. antar "among, between," L. inter "between, among," Gk. entera "intestines;" see inter-).

That is the suggestion in Barnhart, but other sources regard the "among, between, before, in the presence of" sense of O.E. prefix and preposition under as other meanings of the same word. "Among" seems to be the sense in many O.E. compounds that resemble understand, e.g. underniman "to receive," undersecan "to investigate," underginnan "to begin." It also seems to be the sense still in expressions such as under such circumstances.

Perhaps the ultimate sense is "be close to," cf. Gk. epistamai "I know how, I know," lit. "I stand upon." Similar formations are found in O.Fris. (understonda), M.Dan. (understande), while other Germanic languages use compounds meaning "stand before" (cf. Ger. verstehen, represented in O.E. by forstanden). For this concept, most I.E. languages use figurative extensions of compounds that lit. mean "put together," or "separate," or "take, grasp" (see comprehend).

"All our steps are ordered by the LORD; how then can we understand our own ways?"
- Bible: Hebrew, Proverbs 20:24.

I seriously missedd thiisss threaddd... and Jord, you do it so well.
Can I request a word for you to do for us ? lol?? PLEASE

Is please the word? Or is that you pleading? Lololol.

Also, thank you. I appreciate that comment. :)

6. to have knowledge or background, as on a particular subject: He understands about boats.

^^^^
omg, I didn't know this, LOL.

Jordan, thankou. :)