[f. as prec. + -ING2.]
1. Of persons (or animals): Possessed of understanding; having knowledge and judgment; intelligent.
Very common in the 17th century.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 121. Ðe man is understondinde, þe him seluen cnoweð and gode leueð.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 35. He was boþe gode & wys in alle his dedis, & right vnderstandyng, to help at alle nedis.
1382. Wyclif, Deut. iv. 6. A wise puple and an vndirstondynge!
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 511. Vnderstondynge, or wytty, intelligens.
1535. Coverdale, Deut. iv. 6. What a wyse and vnderstondinge folke is this?
1613. Wither, Abuses Stript, II. ii. O 5 b. A selected Crew,… the Wisest, The Vnderstanding’st, yea, and the Precisest Of a whole Empire.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 29. A modest and vnderstanding Gentleman. Ibid., 90. An Elephant (an vnderstanding beast).
1681. Otway, Soldier’s Fort., V. i. Aristotle … was an understanding fellow.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 42, ¶ 6. The more understanding Part of the Audience immediately see through it and despise it.
1772. Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), I. 377. There were among them many … understanding persons.
1817–8. Cobbett, Resid. U.S. (1822), 167. One of the most understanding and most worthy men I ever had the honour to be acquainted with.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 132. The Athenians are an understanding people.
absol. 1650. Gentilis, Considerations, 194. So that … we may say, that the understandingest doth command by cunning, the most rash by violence.
b. Const. in (a matter, etc.). Now rare or Obs.
1612. Bacon, Ess., Of Judicature (Arb.), 458. An ancient Clearke, skilful in presidents,… and vnderstanding in the businesse of the Court.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 35. Howsoever he was very understanding in all other things, he was noted yet to be of a very high mind.
1732. Lord Tyrawly, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 381. My Captain, who is a very understanding fellow in these matters.
1755. Mem. Capt. P. Drake, I. ii. 19. A very understanding Man in the Business of Cow-stealing.
2. Of the mind, etc.: Endowed with intelligence; intellectual.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Kings iii. 12. I haue … ȝeuen to thee a wise herte and an vndurstondynge [L. sapiens et intelligens].
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxviii. (Bodl. MS.). Kinde ȝeueþ to man vndirstonding instrumentes according to his vertues.
1539. Bible (Great), 1 Kings iii. 9. Geue therfore vnto thy seruaunt an vnderstandyng hert.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 141. Mans will and the understandyng parte of his soule.
1662. H. More, Antid. Ath., III. i. § 2. Some free subtile understanding Essence distinct from the brute Matter.
1681. Flavel, Meth. Grace, xxiii. 401. The understanding faculty like a dial is enlightened with the beams of divine truth shining upon it.
1827. Pollok, Course T., III. 636. Be wise, Ye fools! be of an understanding heart.
1853. F. D. Maurice, Proph. & Kings, v. 78. The understanding heart of Solomon led him to revere as well as to suspect himself.
b. Of speech: Displaying intelligence. rare–1.
1635. J. Taylor (Water P.), Very Old Man, C. Loves Company, and Vnderstanding talke.
† 3. Capable of being understood; intelligible. Obs.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, I. Prol. (Skeat), l. 56. By thilke thinges that ben made understonding here to our wittes.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 93. All þare-by is vnderstandant, and neghys negh, þat þat ys remued of farre.
