Understand Definition

ŭndər-stănd

understanding, understands, understood

verb

understanding, understands, understood

To get or perceive the meaning of; know or grasp what is meant by; comprehend.

To understand a question.

Webster's New World

To gather or assume from what is heard, known, etc.; infer.

Are we to understand that you want to go?

Webster's New World

To become aware of the intended meaning of (a person or remark, for example).

We understand what they're saying; we just disagree with it. When he began describing his eccentric theories, we could no longer understand him.

American Heritage

To be informed; believe.

He is, I understand, no longer here.

Webster's New World

To take as meant or meaning; interpret.

To understand his silence as refusal.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Understand

From Middle English understanden, from Old English understandan (“to understand"), from Proto-Germanic *under (“between") + *standanÄ… (“to stand"), equivalent to Old English under- (“between, inter-") + standan (“to stand"). Cognate with Eastern Frisian understunda (“to understand"), Old High German understantan (“to understand"), Middle Danish understande (“to understand"). Compare also Dutch onderstaan (“to undertake, presume"), German unterstehen (“to be subordinate"). More at inter-, stand.

From Wiktionary
Middle English understanden from Old English understandan under- under- standan to stand stā- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition