▪ I. † underˈstand, n. Obs. rare.
[f. the vb.]
1. Understanding; knowledge.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 9326 ‘Ne i herd neuer,’ he said, ‘in land Men sua herd of vnder-stand’. 1444 Extr. Aberd. Rec. (1844) I. 10 It was cum til his vnderstand that Marioune..hes complaynit to the lorde of Erole that [etc.]. |
2. Support, basis.
| 1580–90 J. Stewart Poems (S.T.S.) II. 149 Flie Sir, from sic, and lerne to vnderstand. Stand quhair ȝe vill, firm be ȝour vnderstand. |
▪ II. underˈstand, v.
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 17th 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 diᵹle to understandenne. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1013 Liht to ure lare, þet tu mahe stihen to under⁓stonden 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 tr. Leo's Africa iii. 155 A man may much more easily vnder⁓stand 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. c 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 J. 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 vnder⁓stood 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 liuely and seueral instrument of action. 1846 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 Shakes. 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 andᵹyte þæt we maᵹon 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 under⁓stonde 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, y{supt} one vnder⁓stonde not what another saieth. c 1595 Capt. Wyatt Dudley's Voy. (Hakluyt Soc.) 40 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 Shakes. John iv. ii. 237 Thou didst vnder⁓stand me by my signes. 1667 Milton P.L. xii. 58 Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud Among the Builders; each to other calls Not understood. 1687 A. Lovell tr. 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 under⁓stand 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) 24 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 ælmihtiᵹa god hi ealle ᵹesceop..of nahte. c 1012 Wulfstan Hom. (1883) 156 Understandað eac..þæt deofol þas þeode nu fela ᵹeara 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 vnder⁓stode. 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. 1486 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 under⁓stand That sin let loose speaks punishment at hand. 1819 Shelley Cenci iv. i. 101 Tell her to come; yet let her under⁓stand 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 whiche the Lorde Herry..made to y⊇ 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 daᵹum. 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 under⁓stood 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 Jas. I Kingis Q. cxxvii, My son, I..vnderstond, Be thy reherse, the matere of thy gref. 1482 Cely Papers (Camden) 128, I wndyrstonde be Robard Eryke that ȝe hafe ij fayr hawkes. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 401 b, I require you that you wyll make a direct aunswer..and let me under⁓stande it tomorrowe. 1585 T. Washington tr. 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. Hutchinson (1806) 428 When the colonell's wife under⁓stood 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 R. Paltock P. Wilkins II. x. 112 As I understand your great Ancestor would have come into it,..but for the Ragams. 1788 Cowper Let. 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. Pat. 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 J. W. 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 J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573) 123 b, We read..that there was an Aungell of Grece, and an Aungell of Persia, and that by them þ⊇ 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 Shakes. A.Y.L. iv. iii. 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 tr. 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 under⁓stood 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 ᵹeswinc 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 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 48 Gouerne hem wyth goodnesse, and vnderstonde 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, though not expressly stated or mentioned; to supply mentally. Chiefly Gram.
| 1530 Palsgr. 342 Whan we use ‘they’ or ‘them’, under⁓standyng 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 under⁓standing Lancem. 1861 Paley Aeschylus (ed. 2) Seven agst. Thebes 249 note, Understand χαρίζοιο {alenisgrave}ν, 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 Gram. 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 ὁδὸν understood. 1817 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 σκόπει 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 Shakes. Two Gent. ii. v. 31 Why, stand-vnder: and vnder-stand is all one. 1601 ― Twel. N. iii. i. 90 My legges do better vnder⁓stand me sir, then I vnderstand what you meane.] a 1611 Chapman Iliad v. 687 Alcander, and a number more, he slew, and more had slain, If Hector had not understood. 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 ᵹemæne mid nytenum, þæt he ᵹefrede; mid englum, þæt he understande. c 1012 Wulfstan Hom. (1883) 161 Eall þæt syndon micle and eᵹeslice 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 undir⁓stonden; 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 tr. 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 maᵹon 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. M{supc}Carthy 1001 Days II. 7, I under⁓stood 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 vnther⁓stonde Of the Soudanes fyght. 1401 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. 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 under⁓stood 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 Thow ned 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 vnder⁓stand. 1642 H. More Song of Soul i. ii. 52 You are Heavens Privy-Counsellour I understond. 1898 ‘Merrimen’ 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 say Prima significat vnum &c.,..he vndirstondes noȝt of 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. |