Understand /(ŭn`dẽr*stănd")/

imp. & p. p. Understood; p. pr. & vb. n. Understanding

1. To have just and adequate ideas of; to apprehended 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 understands the advocate or his argument; to understand the sacred oracles; to understand a nod or a wink. Archaic

   Speaketh [i. e., speak thou] so plain at this time, I you pray, That we may understande what ye say.

   I understand not what you mean by this.

   Understood not all was but a show.

   A tongue not understanded of the people.

2. To be apprised, or have information, of; to learn; to be informed of; to hear; as, I understand that Congress has passed the bill.
3. To recognize or hold as being or signifying; to suppose to mean; to interpret; to explain.

   The most learned interpreters understood the words of sin, and not of Abel.

4. To mean without expressing; to imply tacitly; to take for granted; to assume.

   War, then, war, Open or understood, must be resolved.

5. To stand under; to support. [Jocose & R.]

1. To have the use of the intellectual faculties; to be an intelligent being.

   Imparadised in you, in whom alone I understand, and grow, and see.

2. To be informed; to have or receive knowledge.

   I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah.