apprehension
(æprɪˈhɛnʃən)
[ad. (? through Fr. appréhension, 15th c. in Littré) L. apprehensiōn-em, n. of action f. apprehend-ĕre to seize upon: see apprehend and -ion1.]
gen. The action of seizing upon, seizure, grasp. As in other adopted words, employed in the mental before the physical senses, for which native Eng. and OFr. words were in use.
I. Physical.
1. The action of laying hold of or seizing (physically); prehension, grasping. rare.
| 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. (J.) [A lobster's claw is] a part of apprehension whereby they seize upon their prey. 1835 Southw. Smith Philos. Health I. v. 262 The superior extremities [of the body] are organs of apprehension. |
2. Law. The action of taking manual possession.
| 1832 Austin Jurispr. (1879) II. lvi. 928 The absolute property rei singulæ cannot be acquired commonly without an apprehension or a taking possession of the thing by the acquirer. 1875 Poste Gaius ii. 203 Either constructive delivery (traditio) or apprehension (perceptio). |
3. The seizure of a person, a ship, etc., in the name of justice or authority; arrest. Const. subj. gen. of the actor, obj. gen. of the person arrested, the latter being more frequent: ‘The king's apprehension of Pym,’ ‘Pym's apprehension by the king.’
| 1577 Harrison Eng. i. ii. iv. 103 If they be taken the third time and have not since their second apprehension applied themselves to labour. 1614 Sir R. Dudley in Fortesc. Pap. 6 Your answer tuiching his Majestys aprehension of the forcible vessell. 1881 Chamb. Jrnl. No. 916. 457 A warrant for his apprehension was obtained. |
II. Mental.
† 4. gen. The action of learning, the laying hold or acquirement of knowledge. Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. vi. (1495) 111 Meane moeuynge of the eye is to be praysed, for it sygnefyeth easy apprehensyon. 1641 Wilkins Math. Magick i. i. 3 The ancient Philosophers esteemed it a great part of wisdome to conceale their learning from vulgar apprehension or use. |
5. The action of laying hold of with the senses; conscious perception. arch.
| 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iii. ii. 178 Dark night, that from the eye his function takes, The eare more quicke of apprehension makes. 1635 Austin Medit. 9 She [the Virgin] had a corporall, as well as a mental apprehension of the Messenger. 1732 Law Serious Call xi. 177 Invisible to his Eyes, being too glorious for the apprehension of flesh and blood. |
† 6. The action of ‘feeling’ anything emotionally; sensitiveness or sensibility to; sympathetic perception. Obs. rare.
| 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. iii. §6 [They] have not their thoughts established..in the love and apprehension of duty. 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus i. 15 If men did conscionably and in right apprehension of Gods goodnes blesse their meate. 1644 Heylin Laud i. 206 The Queen..out of a deep apprehension of that lamentable accident, forthwith directed, etc. |
7. The action of grasping with the intellect; the forming of an idea; conception; intellection.
| 1597 J. Payne Royal Exch. 25 Better..ys a short and diligent readinge..then to turn manie leaves with small regard and less apprehention. a 1680 Glanvill (J.) Simple apprehension denotes no more than the soul's naked intellection of an object. 1751 Johnson Rambl. 177 ¶3 My quickness of apprehension, and celerity of reply. 1866 Duke of Argyll Reign of Law ii. 110 A clear apprehension of this Abstract Idea was necessary to a right understanding. 1870 Bowen Logic i. 28 Simple Apprehension corresponds very nearly to that sort of thinking which we now call Conception. |
8. The apprehensive faculty; ability to understand; understanding.
| 1570 Dee Math. Præf. 4 So..dull is our apprehension. 1607 Dekker Westw. Hoe iii. i, O the quick apprehension of women. 1636 Heywood Love's Mistr. Pref., It was above my apprehension to conceive. 1851 Hawthorne Snow Image (1879) 214 How forcibly the lapse of time..came home to my apprehension. |
9. The product of grasping with the mind; a conception or idea; also, the abiding result of such conception; a view, notion, or opinion entertained upon any subject.
| 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 763/2 We haue no apprehension of y⊇ heauenly life, when we are thus tyed to this world. 1670 Baxter Cure Ch.-Div. 19 Fix not too rashly upon your first apprehensions. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 10 ¶4 Which according to vulgar apprehension swept away his legs. 1774 Reid Aristot. Log. ii. §1 The first part of logic treats of simple apprehensions and of terms. 1871 R. W. Dale Ten Command. Introd. 11 We must obey the moral law to have a true apprehension of it. |
† 10. The conception or idea expressed by a word; meaning, sense. Obs. rare.
| 1615 T. Adams Leaven 102 ‘The kingdom of Heaven’..hath a diverse sense and apprehension in the Scriptures. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 15 Other wayes there are of deceit which consist not in false apprehension of words. |
11. The representation to oneself of what is still future; anticipation; chiefly of things adverse.
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. iii. i. 78 The sence of death is most in apprehension. 1693 Owen Holy Spirit 12 Sorrow had filled their Hearts upon the Apprehension of his Departure. 1719 Waterland Vind. Christ's Div. Pref. A ij, The following Queries were drawn up..when I had not the least apprehension of their appearing in print. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xxxix. (1856) 358 Leaving us to the thaws of summer and the stormy winds of September before our imprisonment ceases. The apprehension has no mirth in it. |
12. Fear as to what may happen; dread.
| 1648 Sanderson 21 Serm. Ad Aul. xvi. (1673) 227 The bare fears of such things and apprehensions of their approach. 1709 Tatler No. 108 ¶1, I..looked about with some Apprehension..for Fear any Foreigner should be present. 1825 T. Jefferson Autobiog. Wks. 1859 I. 67 Their representatives at Paris expressed apprehensions that France would interfere. 1836 Macgillivray Humboldt's Trav. xviii. 263 Not without apprehension of being bitten by serpents. |