Forms: (see STAND v.). [OE. understondan, -standan (UNDER-1 8 a), OFris. understonda, MDa. understande, MSw. undi(r)standa, OIcel. (as a foreign word) undirstanda. Cf. MLG. understân to understand, to step under, MDu. onderstaen (Du. -staan), MHG. understân, -stên (G. unterstehen), to take upon oneself, to venture, presume, etc. With a different prefix, the same use of stand appears in OE. forstandan, OS. farstandan, OHG. far-, firstantan (firstân), and MHG. verstân, -stên (G. verstehen), MDu. verstaen (Du. -staan).
In the 15th and 16th cents. three forms of the past pple. were current, viz. (a) the original understanden (also -stonden), in use till about 1550; (b) the reduced form of this, understande (-stonde), -stand (-stond), common till about 1575, and surviving into the 17h cent.; (c) the new form understanded (-stonded), very common from about 1530 to 1585. The occurrence of understanded in the Thirty-Nine Articles, xxxv., in the phrase ‘understanded of the people,’ has given rise to recent echoes of it, especially in journalistic use. The modern form understood came into use in the latter part of the 16th cent., and was usual by 1600.]
I. trans. 1. To comprehend; to apprehend the meaning or import of; to grasp the idea of.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 8. Se godcunda foreþonc hit understent eall swiðe rihte, þeah … we ne cunnon þæt riht understandan.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 188. Wæs seo ealde æ swiðe earfoðe and diʓle to understandenne.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1013. Liht to ure lare, þet tu mahe stihen to understonden in him godes muchele strencðe.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 11/343. Þe Aumperour þis onder-stod, þei he heþene were.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 609. Ȝe ne vndurstonde nouht þat stounde þe storie of þis wordus.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, III. iii. (Skeat) l. 77. If these thinges be wel understonde, I wene that non inconvenient shalt thou fynde betwene goddes forweting and liberte of arbitrement.
a. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 3. Whech noyse God hymselfe schall know and vndyrstond.
1523. [Coverdale], Old God (1534), P v. The multytude of dyuerse ceremonyes … not being vnderstanded nor perceyued of the comen sorte … of people.
1548. R. Hutten, Sum of Diuinitie, E 4 b. The sentence shal be better understande if it be changed into a comparyson to an other.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, III. 155. A man may much more easily vnderstand the text then the exposition thereof.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 376. Now clear I understand What oft my steddiest thoughts have searcht in vain.
1733. Berkeley, Th. Vision, § 27. I have considered and endeavoured to understand your remarks.
1815. Jane Austen, Emma, ix. One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxi. The young prince saw that they were in possession of something more divine than the world could understand.
refl. 1275. in O. E. Misc., 45/297. Peter a-non þer-after hyne vnderstod Hwat his louerd hedde iseyd.
b. To be thoroughly acquainted or familiar with (an art, profession, etc.); to be able to practise or deal with properly.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), A ij. The science of phisicke,… beyng well vnderstande, truely experienced, and discretely ordred.
1622. J. Taylor (Water P.), Farew. Tower-bottles, A 4. When Vpland Trades-men thus dares take in hand A wat’ry buis’nesse, they not vnderstand.
1681. Chetham, Angler’s Vade-m., xxxix. (1689), 252. I will not deny but that (as the times phrase it) I understand something of eating.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. 93. He … understood a small Sword excellently well, but [was] not much versed in Merchandize or foreign Commerce.
1768. Earl Carlisle, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1843), II. 292. Get somebody who understands it to taste it [sc. claret] for you.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxvi. Galeotti … understood his own profession too well to let that ignorance be seen.
1859. Habits Gd. Society, v. 221. Thomas, bring that fowl to me; Mr. Jones [who is trying to carve it] seems not to understand it.
c. To apprehend clearly the character or nature of (a person). Also refl.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, v. 57. God then conceyued and vnderstood himselfe; and it must needes be that he vnderstood himselfe seeing that the chiefest wisedome is to know ones selfe.
1588. Kyd, Househ. Philos., Wks. (1901), 267. So that the seruaunt, if you will rightly vnderstand him, is … a linely and seueral instrument of action.
1846. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. viii. 137. It is my misfortune to be little understood; but our praise is not of men, but of God.
1876. Parker, Paraclete, I. ix. 142. We cannot understand Christ until we understand Moses, nor can we understand the spirit until we understand Christ.
† d. refl. (a) To know one’s place, or how to conduct oneself properly. (b) To be in possession of one’s senses or faculties. Obs.
(a) 1602. Shaks., Ham., I. iii. 96. You doe not vnderstand your selfe so cleerely, As it behoues my Daughter, and your Honour.
1687. Miége, To understand himself, to know how to carry himself, savoir se conduire.
1745. J. Mason, Self-Knowledge, I. iii. (1758), 32. Nothing is more common than to say, when a Person does not behave with due Decency towards his Superiors, such a one does not understand himself.
(b) 1696. Aubrey, Misc., 136. He was an Hundred Years old when my Friend was with him; and yet, did understand himself very well.
2. To comprehend by knowing the meaning of the words employed; to be acquainted with (a language) to this extent.
a. 1000. Colloq. Ælfric., in Wr.-Wülcker, 100. Sprec us æfter urum andʓyte þæt we maʓon understandan þa þing þe þu specst.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2210. Wende here non it on his mod, Oc Iosep al it under-stod.
c. 1275. in O. E. Misc., 56/668. Eueruych þer vnderstod his icunde speche.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 232. Þis ilk bok es translate … For the loue of Inglis lede … For the commun at understand.
a. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, II. 2. Now herkeneth, euery maner man That englissh understonde kan.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxix. 131. Neuer þe latter þai wate noȝt whare þai myght aryfe, and also þai schuld noȝt vnderstand þer langage.
1535. Coverdale, Gen. xi. 7. Let vs … confounde their tonge euen there, yt one vnderstonde not what another saieth.
c. 1595. Capt. Wyatt, Dudley’s Voy. (Hakluyt Soc.), 49. All theire conference was in the Indian tounge, which our Captaine nor anie of his companie did understande.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 250. The Arabike I vnderstand not.
1659. in Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 6. Seeing we all understand not French, let us take his word; that is English.
1716. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), V. 314. He does not understand Latin.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 351. The Spaniards, two of whom understood English well enough.
1842. Tennyson, Vision of Sin, V. 16. An answer peal’d…, But in a tongue no man could understand.
b. To grasp the meaning or purport of the words (or signs) used by (a person).
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1641. Beo nu þenne, Porphire, stille & understont me.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2260. Bot sua he mengud þam þair mode, þat naman oþer vndirstode.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 520. A maner latyn corrupt was hir speche, But algates ther by was she vnderstonde.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lx. 208. Thus they compleynyd them one to another, and Huon, who was nere them, vnderstode them well.
1566. Stapleton, Ret. Untr. Jewell, III. 110 b. To praie, it was not requisit he should be vnderstanded, For that was done … by sighynges.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. ii. 237. Thou didst vnderstand me by my signes.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 58. Forth with a hideous gabble rises loud Among the Builders; each to other calls Not understood.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 61. When he eats he speaks to no body, but makes himself be understood by signs to the mute Buffoons.
1838. Lytton, Leila, II. i. ‘Thou understandest me, father?’ ‘I do. I know your pious heart and well-judging mind.’
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lvi. Pretending to understand little George when he spoke regarding them.
refl. c. 1395. Plowman’s T., 792. Yet he jangleth as a jaie, And understont him selfe no thing.
1618. Fletcher, Woman Pleas’d, IV. i. What Treason’s that? does this fellow understand Himself?
c. To understand each other, to be in agreement or collusion; to be confederates.
1663. Extr. St. Papers Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 171. The Quakers … with all other Sects are fully agreed in this business and doe perfectly understand each other.
1675. Essex Papers (Camden), 21. Its so apparent … that they understand one another.
1853. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour, vii. ‘You trust me,’ replied Leather,… with a look as much as to say, ‘we understand each other.’
3. To comprehend as a fact; to grasp clearly, to realize. Chiefly with clause as object.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxv. 178. Under-stand be ðam hu se ælmihtiʓa god hi ealle ʓesceop … of nahte.
c. 1012. Wulfstan, Hom. (1883), 156. Understandað eac … þæt deofol þas þeode nu fela ʓeara dwelode.
a. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 19. Vnderstandeþ, alle ðe ðis radeþ oðer ihereð,… þe muchele ðolemodnesse of us on ðese liue.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 66. So þe ueond, þurh hire word, understod anonriht hire wocnesse.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4249. Sir putifar wel vndirstod Þat ioseph was o gentil blod. Ibid., 14874. Quat he was þai noght vnderstode.
c. 1315. Shoreham, I. 652. Nou onderstand: þe signe her Fourme hys of wyne and brede.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 140. And understond that al this peine … Is schape al only for thi pride.
c. 1425. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 2040. I cowde nat vndyrstande Where he became, but sodenly As he came, he went.
1485. Bk. St. Albans, d ij. Understonde ye that a Goshawke shulde not flie to any fowle.
1535. Coverdale, John viii. 27. Howbeit they vnderstode not, that he spake of the father.
1558. Bp. Watson, Seven Sacram., xxi. 132. He hath often tymes with his reason vnderstande … what God hath commaunded and the goodnes of it.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxvii. § 4. Thus much they knewe, although as yet they vnderstoode not perfectly to what effect or issue the same would come.
1710. Addison, Whig Exam., 14 Sept., ¶ 3. This Œdipus, you must understand,… was son to a King of Thebes.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 159. They … could not understand That sin let loose speaks punishment at hand.
1819. Shelley, Cenci, IV. i. 10. Tell her to come; yet let her understand Her coming is consent.
1867. H. Spencer, First Princ. (ed. 2), I. iv. § 23. 70. You now understand … what has disabled the partridge.
† b. With reflexive pronoun. Obs. rare.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 35. For-þi leofemen understondet eouseluen þa hwile ȝe mahten: Nis þas weorld nawiht.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 1131. A! Mon, nim ȝeme and vnderstond þe Hou fynliche in herte God loueþ þe.
† c. To ascertain the purport of (a letter, etc.) by perusal and consideration. Obs.
1389. Eng. Gilds (1870), 50. We fulliche vndirstondend ȝour lettres sent to vs,… do ȝow openliche to wetyn [etc.].
c. 1400. Brut, II. 318. The which lettres, whan þe kyng … had seyn & vndirstonden, he had grete compassioun.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, VIII. xxv. (1558), 16 b. Your letters red and plainly vnderstande.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 14. We haue understand the charter the which the Lorde Herry … made to ye citezens of London in thes wordes.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xiv. 14. Whan all the cases and dedis that the kyng had done … were red, and wel understand.
4. a. To grasp as a fixed or established fact or principle; to regard as settled or implied without specific mention.
c. 1055. Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia, VIII. 304. Þis ylce understand be þam oðrum daʉum.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1908), 9. It is to vndirstonde … as for a principal and general rule that [etc.].
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 156. Than it is to be vnderstande, what goodes a man shall take with hym.
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 8. The lyke is to be vnderstande of Popingiayes and spyces.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 662. Warr then, Warr Open or understood must be resolv’d.
1854. Poultry Chron., II. 363. It must be also understood that no alteration can be made in the prices.
b. To have knowledge of, to know or learn, by information received. (Now merged in next.)
Freq. in to give or † do (one) to understand: see DO v. 22 c, GIVE v. 29 c.
a. 1131. [see DO v. 22. c].
a. 1200[?]. in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 218. I do ȝowe to understonden ðat I wolle ðat ðe prestes … haue euere soke and sake ouere alle heore men.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12342. To þe leones coue he yod, Þar he þe quelpes vnder-stod. Ibid., 19919. Quen þai … vnderstod His cuming, son gain him þai yod.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 5262. Whan þe worþi william … hade vnderston[d] þe tidinges to þende, to þe menskful messageres he made glad chere.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 470. Now wole I seyn what penaunce thow schalt do For thyn trespace, & vndyrstonde it here.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., cxxvii. My son, I … vnderstond, Be thy reherse, the matere of thy gref.
1482. Cely Papers (Camden), 123. I wndyrstonde be Robard Eryke that ȝe hafe ij fayr hawkes.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 401 b. I require you that you wyll make a direct aunswer … and let me understande it tomorrowe.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. xv. 16 b. The great displeasure he would take, when he should vnderstand the great dammage which the Turks had done.
1611. B. Jonson, Catiline, IV. iv. I vnderstand by Quintus Fabius Sanga,… you haue beene lately Sollicited against the Common-wealth.
1664. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Huchinson (1806), 428. When the colonell’s wife understood her husband’s bad accommodation.
c. To take or accept as a fact, without positive knowledge or certainty; to get as an impression or idea; to believe. Chiefly with obj. clause.
1751. Paltock, P. Wilkins, II. x. 112. As I understand your great Ancestor would have come into it,… but for the Ragams.
1788. Cowper, Lett. to Lady Hesketh, 6 May. The General, I understand by his last letter, is in town.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. I. 217. I understood from Mr. Abberly … that I should find him, if I called at this time of the day.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., xxxiv. They understood it was his wish to observe incognito.
1858. Congressional Globe, 18 Feb., 752/1. I understand the gentleman from Illinois to give way. The Chairman. The Chair understands not.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, vii. It was understood she had made an engagement to go to India.
5. To take, interpret, or view in a certain way.
c. 1000. Ags. Psalter, xxi. 2. Ne understand þu hit me to unrihtwisnesse.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxv. 472. Æwfestlice understandende be ure ealra æriste.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 75. Þis word … mon mei understonden on þro wise.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 337. Bot þou sal noght vndirstand Þat he wroght al his werc wit hand.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4425. Þe dragon es understanden þe fende … And þe thred part of þe sternes bright Er cristen men undirstanden right.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xi. 1928 (Cott. MS.). þir wordis in to propyrte Al þus may vndirstandyn be.
a. 1533[?]. Frith, Answ. More (1548), A 2 b. I shewed hym that it was not necessary, that the words shulde so be vnderstonde as they sownde.
1566. Pasquine in Traunce, 107. That which Christ speaketh … of many false Prophets … may be vnderstand to be the sundry sectes of Monkes and Fryers.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osorius, 188 b. The Major must be understanded, that Paule treated not of the cause … but of the execution and effect of predestination.
1645. Docq. Lett. Pal. at Oxf. (1837), 257. Which Forces shalbe vnderstoode to be in the nature of Posse Comitatus.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, II. iv. § 8. Some understand the first words … that he was not born a Prophet.
1772. Lett. Junius, lxviii. (1788), 343. You, Lord Mansfield, did not understand me so.
1835. T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., 339, note. Elmsley understands this word in its legal sense.
1860. Warter, Sea-board, II. 492. I do not quite know how Miss Bremer … intended these words to be understood.
b. Const. by. (In passive passing into the sense of ‘is signified.’)
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1681. Bi þe name of ded may be tane, And understanden ma dedes þan ane.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 257. By þe po feet is vnderstonde … Excecutoures, fals frendes.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 69. By þis man is vnderstondyn feynar þat is fals, and lufiþ his synne.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 10. All the cristin men that war undirstandin be the grene blude.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, I. i. By the cok is to vnderstond the fool whiche retcheth not of sapyence.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. iii. 34. By the coniuracyon the whiche is made unto the lefte ere is understande that he ought to put out of us all euyl thoughtes.
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 123 b. We read … that there was an Aungell of Grece, and an Aungell of Persia, and that by them þe whole people are vnderstand.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 19. You shall heare what space is to be vnderstanded by the name of Necke.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., IV. ii. 95. Ros. What must we vnderstand by this? Oli. Some of my shame.
1651. C. Cartwright, Cert. Relig., I. 296. Estius … saith that Chrysostome and his followers by sacrifice then understand … Baptisme.
1727. De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. I. (1840), 24. After this story no man need inquire what the world understood by the magicians and astrologers and wise men of those days.
1758. trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (1772), I. 440. The llama, to which the Indians added the name of runa, to denote an India sheep; that beast being now understood by the runa-llama.
1865. Ruskin, Sesame, i. § 3. We do not understand by this advancement, in general, the mere making of money.
c. Const. of.
1549. Latimer, 1st Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 22. The forsayd words of Paul are not to be vnderstande of all scriptures.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 43 b. He demaundeth of us, what is to be understanded of those Sacramentes which we doe reteine.
1705. Addison, Italy, 110. Which is true, if understood only of the Rivers of Italy.
1861. Paley, Aeschylus (ed. 2), Prometh., 898, note. This is to be literally understood of the gadfly’s sting.
† d. To understand, to wit, namely. Obs.
1579. J. Dee, Diary (Camden), 5. To my heires and assignes for ever, to understand, Mr. Bullok and Mr. Taylor.
† e. To mean, to imply. (Cf. 12 b.) Obs.–1
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 227. Distant from Ierusalem some fiue miles, (in Turky I alwaies vnderstand Italian miles).
† 6. a. To give heed to attend to. Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxiii b 186. Þæt ʓeswinc his syðfætes ne understandende … [he] arn.
c. 1275. O. E. Misc., 90/8. Þu ert help in engelaunde. Vre stephne vnderstonde.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 953. Ȝif þou wole me louen and vnderstonde, I chul þe bringe in-to þin owne londe.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 48. Gouerne hem wyth goodnesse, and vderstonde hem wyth debonertee.
† b. To receive, accept. Obs.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 99. Ech þe understandeð þat holi husel unwurðliche, he understant him seluen eche pine. Ibid., 167. Þis holie maiden … stehȝ þis dai … in to þan heuenliche bure, þar heo was wurðliche understonden.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2275. Al ðo briðere … bedden him riche present…. And he leuelike it under-stod.
c. 1275. O. E. Misc., 90/3. Haly thomas of heoueriche Alle apostles eueliche Þe Martyrs þe vnder-stonde.
c. 1300. Havelok, 2814. And siþen shal ich under-stonde Of you … Manrede, and holde oþes boþe.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 2432 (Fairf.). Þe king … comanded þorou-out his lande men sulde him mensk and vnderstande.
† c. To conceive. Obs.–1
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 21. Þu shalt understonde [Lamb. Hom. 77, underfon] child on þine innoðe.
7. To recognize or regard as present in thought, thongh not expressly stated or mentioned; to supply mentally. Chiefly Gram.
1530. Palsgr., 342. Whan we use ‘they’ or ‘them,’ understandyng femynin substantyves, they use ever elles.
1533. More, Answ. Poysoned Bk., Wks. 1057/2. Though those wordes wer out, yet they be such as the sentence wold well require to repete and vnderstande.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Sat. Ancients, Wks. 1720, I. 15. The Ancient Romans said Saturam understanding Lancem.
1861. Paley, Aeschylus (ed. 2), Seven agst. Thebes, 249, note. Understand χαρίζοιο ἅν, or something to that effect, suppressed by aposiopesis.
b. In pa. pple.: Implied, though not expressed.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 419. You resemble in your sayings the Painter Tamantes, in whose pictures there was euer more vnderstoode then painted.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 200. Admit this also that god’s name is not expressed, yet have ye not taught us that it is not understanded here.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, V. § 1. 410. Circumstantiall words, which are as bonds to knit word to word, it leaveth to be understood.
1669. Milton, Acced. Grammar, 59. A Noun and Pronoun with a Participle exprest or understood.
1754. R. Newton, Char. Theophrastus, 238. Here is an ellipsis of the substantive: which Lambert Bos hath not supply’d, and therefore I will venture to do it by ὀδὸν understood.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. v. 192. An exception in favour of the Nabob was, from standing usage, so much understood, that to express it had appeared altogether useless.
1835. T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., 675, note. The verb οκόπει or ὅρα is here understood.
1872. Punch, 13 July, 19/2. In order that any matter of business should be perfectly intelligible, nothing should be ‘understood.’
fig. 1858. Hogg, Shelley, II. 417. There was an ellipsis of his waistcoat; it was not expressed, but understood.
† 8. a. In passive: To be informed, advised, or (so) minded. Obs.
c. 1275. O. E. Misc., 52/518. We beoþ vnderstonde þes ilke swike seyde … Ich wile þene þridde day aryse from deþe to lyue.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9300. Ȝif þou seist it vor noble kunne, þou nart noȝt wel vnderstonde, Vor ich was þe kinges sone, þou wost wel, of þis londe.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., III. 196. Tho thre wol multiplie, As semeth me, in euery maner lond; Yet Columelle is so not understonde.
† b. To plan, devise. With refl. dative. Obs.–1
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8877. Þe king vor ire eritage him gan vnderstonde To bringe roberd is sone … in is warison þere.
9. To stand under. † Also spec., to support or assist; to prop up.
13[?]. Northern Passion, 1751 (Addit. MS.). Sayne Iohn hir body [v.r. Cristis word wel] vndir stude.
[1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. v. 31. Why, stand-vnder: and vnder-stand is all one. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., III. i. 90. My legges do better vnderstand me sir, then I vnderstand what you meane.]
a. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, V. 637. Alcander, and a number more, he slew, and more had slain, If Hector had not understood. Ibid. (1615), Odyss., IV. 346. To let him reach the shore Of ships and tents before Troy understood.
1632. Heywood, 1st Pt. Iron Age, V. i. Thy rude hand Would lift a shield, thou canst not vnder stand.
1883. Academy, 16 June, 419/2. A full set of collations ‘understands’ the text.
II. intr. 10. To have comprehension or understanding (in general or in a particular matter).
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 302. [Þam men] is ʓemæne mid nytenum, þæt he ʓefrede; mid englum, þæt he understande.
c. 1012. Wulfstan, Hom. (1883), 161. Eall þæt syndon micle and eʓeslice dæda, understande se ðe wille.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2221. Sire king,… ȝif þou wolt understonde, Deol þou miȝt abbe in þin herte of þin kunde londe.
1340. Ayenb., 56. Huanne þe glotoun geþ in to þe tauerne … he … specþ wel and onderstant; huan he comþ ayen, he heþ al þis uorlore.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 13. Ȝit ȝe knowun not, ne undirstonden; ȝit ȝour herte is blyndid.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 13. The quhilk lettis to have perfyte resoun … to understand rychtwisly.
1530. Palsgr., 767/2. For as farre as I can understande, it is so.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, v. 55. Albeit that of the things which are in this world, some vnderstand, and some vnderstand not;… all of them are appoynted to some certeyne end.
1613. Fletcher, etc., Hon. Man’s Fort., V. i. All women that on earth do dwell thou lov’st, Yet none that understand love thee again.
1648. Milton, Ps. lxxxii. 17. They know not nor will understand, In darkness they walk on.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., I. xiv. 64. By my Advice, let each with chearful Heart, As best he understands, employ his Art.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 430. Man’s heart had been impenetrably seal’d,… Had not his Maker’s all-bestowing hand Giv’n him a soul, and bade him understand.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xcvii. 36. She dwells on him with faithful eyes, ‘I cannot understand: I love.’
b. Const. about, † of. † Also with refl. dative.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 10. Englas … ne maʓon fulfremedlice understandan ymbe God.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 210. Nis … no mon þet ne mei understonden him of his sunnen nomeliche.
c. 1375. [see 10 c].
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 42 b. Certes gentil knight I knowe wel my self & vnderstonde of this marchandyse.
1860. W. Collins, Woman in White, I. xv. 187. You quite understand about that little matter of business being safe in my hands?
1892. J. H. McCarthy, 1001 Days, II. 7. I understood about precious stones, and I had reason to hope that I should not do badly in the business.
† c. To know how to do something. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24792. Willam basterd … conquerur was gode, And for to warrai [c. 1375 of þe were he] vnderstode.
1723. Pres. St. Russia, I. 337. A Hatchet, which their Carpenters understand to handle with more Skill than those of any Nation whatsoever.
† 11. To have knowledge or information, to learn, of something. Obs.
13[?]. Cursor M., 19919 (Gött.). Quen he of his comming vnderstode, Sone he ras and gain þaim him ȝode.
a. 1400. Octouian, 1589. Anoon the kyng … dede hem alle to vntherstonde Of the Soudanes fyght.
1401. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. I. 22. We do yow to understonde of tydynges the weche we have yherd of Owein Glyndor.
1509. Mem. Hen. VII. (Rolls), 435. Howbe that ye wold mervel in case that ye understode of al the maters that hathe passyd.
1573. L. Lloyd, Marrow of Hist. (1653), 116. The Philosopher … having understood of his mothers death.
1629. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. III. 256. I was gladde to understande of your life and health, which this bearer … made knowen unto me.
1661. Reg. Privy Counc. Scot., Ser. III. I. 5. I shall not know nor understand of any maner of thing … against his Majesties persone … bot I shall lett and withstand the same.
† b. To get news, receive intelligence. Obs.–1
1574. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep. (1577), 58. Pyrrhus … was the first that inuented Currers or Posts: and in this case he was so vigilant, that … in one day he vnderstood from Rome,… and in five out of Asia.
12. a. In parenthetic use (chiefly I understand): To believe or assume, on account of information received or by inference.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 133. Þe kyng of norþhomberlond was king, ich vnderstonde, Of al þe lond biȝonde homber.
a. 1352. Minot, Poems, vii. 92. Þe teres he lete ful rathly ren Out of his eghen, I vnderstand.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 10. For thilke tyme, I understonde, The Lumbard made non eschange.
c. 1440. Generydes, 16. Hire fader was a man of grete powre, And kyng of aufrike as I vnderstonde.
c. 1460. Merita Missæ, 197. Thowned the to fyght, I vndeyrstonde, With youre flesche, and with the fende.
1508. Kennedie, Flyting w. Dunbar, 345. Thow lufis nane Irische, elf, I vnderstand, Bot it suld be all trew Scottis mennis lede.
1592. Arden of Feversham, IV. iv. 4. He is coming from Shorlow as I vnderstand.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, I. ii. 52. You are Heavens Privy-Counsellour I understond.
1898. ‘Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xii. 124. Mr. Wade … was, he understood, distantly related to the mother.
† b. To speak of (= to mean) something. Obs.–1
c. 1425. Craft Nombrynge (E.E.T.S.), 4. Neuer-þe-les wen he says Prima significat vnum &c,… he vndirstondes noȝt or þe first figure of euery rew.
† 13. To be subject to one. Obs. rare.
a. 1200[?]. in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 193. Icc hate … ðæt alcc ða ðeȝnes of ðam landen hinnenforð understande to ðan abbod.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 246. He is þorw riht þeuwe and þral, To whos seruise he vnderstod with-al.
† 14. To give heed, attend, listen, to one. Obs.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 227. Vnderstondeð nu to me, edi men and arme, Ich wulle tellen of helle pin.
13[?]. Guy of Warw., 1292. Lordinges, þan seyd þe douk Otoun, Under-stond to mi resoun.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter, liv. 1. Here myn oreisoun, and ne despise þou nouȝt my praiere, vnder-stonde to me, and here me.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxxii. 633. Vndirstonde to me, and I shall telle the thy dreme.
