Apprehensions

/ˌæprɪˈhenʃənz/ noun

Definition

Plural of apprehension; either anxious concerns or acts of understanding/grasping something.

Etymology

From apprehension + -s plural suffix. Apprehension comes from Latin apprehensio (seizure, understanding). The word has carried both meanings since Latin times. Plural forms regularized in Middle English.

Kelly Says

The fact that one word means both 'anxiety' and 'understanding' traces back to how Roman minds worked—seizure of an idea and seizure of a person were seen as structurally identical mental acts!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.