understand -
v. (past and past part. -stood)
1 tr. perceive the meaning of (words, a person, a language, etc.) (
does not
understand what you say; understood you perfectly; cannot
understand French).
2 tr. perceive the significance or explanation or cause of (do not
understand why he came; could not
understand what the noise was about;
do not
understand the point of his remark).
3 tr. be sympathetically aware of the character or nature of, know how to deal with (quite
understand your difficulty; cannot
understand him at all; could never
understand algebra).
4 tr. a (
often foll. by that + clause) infer esp. from information received, take as implied,
take for granted (I
understand that it begins at noon; I
understand him to be a distant relation; am I to
understand that you refuse?). b (absol.) believe or assume from knowledge or inference (he
is coming tomorrow, I
understand).
5 tr.
supply (a word) mentally (the verb may be either expressed or understood).
6 intr. have
understanding (in
general or in particular).
understand each other 1 know each other's views or feelings.
2 be in agreement or collusion.
understandable adj. understandably adv. understander n. [OE understandan (as UNDER-, STAND)]
