Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “comprehension” come from?

Comprehension comes from Middle French compréhension, from Latin comprehensio, derived from Latin prehendo meaning to seize or grasp, with the prefix com- meaning together.

comprehension (English): thorough understanding; The totality of...

Definitions

  1. thorough understanding; The totality of...

Ancestry of “comprehension”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchcompréhension—
2Latincomprehensiō—
3Latincom-allomorph of con-
4Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “comprehension”

  • incomprehension
  • miscomprehension
  • noncomprehension
  • uncomprehension
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →