Hypertext Webster Gateway: "comprehension"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Comprehension \Com`pre*hen"sion\, n. [L. comprehensio: cf. F.
compr['e]hension.]
1. The act of comprehending, containing, or comprising;
inclusion.

In the Old Testament there is a close comprehension
of the New; in the New, an open discovery of the
Old. --Hooker.

2. That which is comprehended or inclosed within narrow
limits; a summary; an epitome. [Obs.]

Though not a catalogue of fundamentals, yet . . . a
comprehension of them. --Chillingworth.

3. The capacity of the mind to perceive and understand; the
power, act, or process of grasping with the intellect;
perception; understanding; as, a comprehension of abstract
principles.

4. (Logic) The complement of attributes which make up the
notion signified by a general term.

5. (Rhet.) A figure by which the name of a whole is put for a
part, or that of a part for a whole, or a definite number
for an indefinite.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

comprehension
n 1: an ability to understand the meaning or importance of
something (or the knowledge acquired as a result); "how
you can do that is beyond my comprehension"; "he was
famous for his comprehension of American literature"
[ant: {incomprehension}]
2: the relation of comprising something; "he admired the
inclusion of so many ideas in such a short work" [syn: {inclusion}]
3: the act of comprising something


Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup

Enter word here:
Exact Approx


dict.stokkie.net
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents; see the Webster Gateway FAQ, and also the Back-end/database links and credits.