v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Comprehended; p. pr. & vb. n. Comprehending. ] [ L. comprehendere, comprehensum; com- + prehendere to grasp, seize; prae before + hendere (used only in comp.). See Get, and cf. Comprise. ] 1. To contain; to embrace; to include; as, the states comprehended in the Austrian Empire. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who hath . . . comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure. Is. xl. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To take in or include by construction or implication; to comprise; to imply. [ 1913 Webster ]

Comprehended all in this one word, Discretion. Hobbes. [ 1913 Webster ]

And if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying. Rom. xiii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To take into the mind; to grasp with the understanding; to apprehend the meaning of; to understand. [ 1913 Webster ]

At a loss to comprehend the question. W. Irwing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Great things doeth he, which we can not comprehend. Job. xxxvii. 5.

Syn. -- To contain; include; embrace; comprise; inclose; grasp; embody; involve; imply; apprehend; imagine; conceive; understand. See Apprehend. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. able to be understood. Opposite of incomprehensible. [ Narrower terms: clear, distinct ] Also See: clear, explicable, fathomable, intelligible.
Syn. -- comprehensible. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The quality or state of being comprehensible; capability of being understood. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. comprehensibilis: cf. F. compreéhensible. ] 1. Capable of being comprehended, included, or comprised. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lest this part of knowledge should seem to any not comprehensible by axiom, we will set down some heads of it. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of being understood; intelligible; conceivable by the mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

The horizon sets the bounds . . . between what is and what is not comprehensible by us. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being comprehensible; comprehensibility. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. With great extent of signification; comprehensively. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Intelligibly; in a manner to be comprehended or understood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. comprehensio: cf. F. compréhension. ] 1. The act of comprehending, containing, or comprising; inclusion. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the Old Testament there is a close comprehension of the New; in the New, an open discovery of the Old. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is comprehended or inclosed within narrow limits; a summary; an epitome. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Though not a catalogue of fundamentals, yet . . . a comprehension of them. Chillingworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Logic) The complement of attributes which make up the notion signified by a general term. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. compréhensif. ] 1. Including much; comprising many things; having a wide scope or a full view. [ 1913 Webster ]

A very comprehensive definition. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

Large and comprehensive idea. Channing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having the power to comprehend or understand many things. “His comprehensive head.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Possessing peculiarities that are characteristic of several diverse groups. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term is applied chiefly to early fossil groups which have a combination of structures that appear in more fully developed or specialized forms in later groups. Synthetic, as used by Agassiz, is nearly synonymous.

Syn. -- Extensive; wide; large; full; compendious. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a comprehensive manner; with great extent of scope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being comprehensive; extensiveness of scope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Compare the beauty and comprehensiveness of legends on ancient coins. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]