Un'der-stănd'1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. UNDERSTOOD; p. pr. & vb. n. UNDERSTANDING.] [From under and stand; A-S. understandan.] 1. To have just and adequate ideas of; to apprehend the meaning or intention of; to have knowledge of; to comprehend; to know; as, to understand a problem in Euclid; to understand a proposition or a declaration; the court perfectly understands the advocate or his argument; to understand the sacred oracles; to understand a nod or a wink. “Understood not all was but a show.” Milton. I understand not what you mean by this. Shak.
- To be apprised or have information of; as, I understand that Congress has passed the bill.
- To recognize or hold as being or signifying; to suppose to mean; to interpret; to ascribe intention to.
The most learned interpreters understood the words of sin, and not of Abel. Locke. 4. To mean without expressing; to imply; to recognize as intended, without express specification. War, then, war, Open or understood, must be resolved. Milton.