Where does “comprehensive” come from?

Comprehensive derives from Middle French compréhensif, from Late Latin comprehensivus, formed with the Latin suffix -ivus from com- meaning "together" and prehendere meaning "to seize."

comprehensive (English): Broadly or completely covering; including a large...

Definitions

  1. Broadly or completely covering; including a large...

Ancestry of “comprehensive”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchcompréhensif
2Latincomprehēnsīvuscomprehensible, perceivable, conceivable, graspable
3Latincomprehendōto lay hold of something on all sides; take or catch hold of, grasp, grip
4Latincōn-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing together of several objects
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
11Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
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 “comprehensive

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-
comprehensive — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer