n. [ L. apprehensio: cf. F. appréhension. See Apprehend. ] 1. The act of seizing or taking hold of; seizure; as, the hand is an organ of apprehension. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of seizing or taking by legal process; arrest; as, the felon, after his apprehension, escaped. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of grasping with the intellect; the contemplation of things, without affirming, denying, or passing any judgment; intellection; perception. [ 1913 Webster ]

Simple apprehension denotes no more than the soul's naked intellection of an object. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Opinion; conception; sentiment; idea. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense, the word often denotes a belief, founded on sufficient evidence to give preponderation to the mind, but insufficient to induce certainty; as, in our apprehension, the facts prove the issue. [ 1913 Webster ]

To false, and to be thought false, is all one in respect of men, who act not according to truth, but apprehension. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The faculty by which ideas are conceived; understanding; as, a man of dull apprehension. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Anticipation, mostly of things unfavorable; distrust or fear at the prospect of future evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

After the death of his nephew Caligula, Claudius was in no small apprehension for his own life. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Apprehension, Alarm. Apprehension springs from a sense of danger when somewhat remote, but approaching; alarm arises from danger when announced as near at hand. Apprehension is calmer and more permanent; alarm is more agitating and transient. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. comprehensio: cf. F. compréhension. ] 1. The act of comprehending, containing, or comprising; inclusion. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the Old Testament there is a close comprehension of the New; in the New, an open discovery of the Old. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is comprehended or inclosed within narrow limits; a summary; an epitome. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Though not a catalogue of fundamentals, yet . . . a comprehension of them. Chillingworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The capacity of the mind to perceive and understand; the power, act, or process of grasping with the intellect; perception; understanding; as, a comprehension of abstract principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Logic) The complement of attributes which make up the notion signified by a general term. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Rhet.) A figure by which the name of a whole is put for a part, or that of a part for a whole, or a definite number for an indefinite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. deprehensio. ] A catching; discovery. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of apprehension. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of comprehension or understanding. “These mazes and incomprehensions.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A mistaking or mistake; wrong apprehension of one's meaning of a fact; misconception; misunderstanding. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An apprehension or opinion formed before examination or knowledge. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. prehensio; cf. F. préhension. See Prehensile. ] The act of taking hold, seizing, or grasping, as with the hand or other member. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. reprehensio: cf. F. répréhension. ] Reproof; censure; blame; disapproval. [ 1913 Webster ]

This Basilius took as though his mistress had given him a secret reprehension that he had not showed more gratefulness to Dorus. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Censure; reproof; reprimand. See Admonition. [ 1913 Webster ]