Wordiyoprehens
LatinVariants
Related Roots
About This Root
From Latin prehendere (to seize, grasp), from prae- (before) + hendere (to grasp). Highly productive with shortened forms: comprehend (grasp fully), apprehend (seize/understand), surprise (seized unexpectedly), prison (a place of seizure), enterprise (something undertaken). The -pris-/-prise variants show heavy French influence.
Associated Words
apprehend
To arrest someone; to understand; to anticipate with anxiety
apprehension
Anxiety about the future; arrest of a suspect; understanding
apprehensive
Feeling anxious or worried about a future event
apprentice
A person learning a trade under a skilled master
apprise
To inform or notify someone of something
comprehend
To fully understand; to include within a scope
comprehensible
Able to be understood
comprehensive
Covering everything relevant; thorough and wide-ranging
comprise
To consist of or be made up of specific parts
enterprise
A business or company; a bold undertaking; initiative and drive
enterprising
Showing initiative and willingness to take on new challenges
prehensile
Capable of grasping or holding objects by wrapping around them
prison
A place where people are confined as punishment for a crime
prisoner
A person held in prison or kept against their will
reprisal
An act of retaliation
surprise
something unexpected; the feeling of being surprised; to astonish