Etymology : Middle English, from Old English understandan, from under + standan to stand
Pronunciation : "&n-d&r-'stand
Function : verb
Date : before 12th century
1. capable of being inferred, implied; agreed upon, commonly known; comprehended. understood\un`der*stood"\ , imp. & p. p. of understand.understood adj.
2. fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation; "the understood conditions of troop withdrawal were clear" [ant: ununderstood].
3. indicated by necessary connotation though not expressed directly; "gave silent consent"; "a tacit agreement"; "the understood provisos of a custody agreement" [syn: implied, silent, tacit].
4. imp. & p. p. of Understand. fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation; "the understood conditions of troop withdrawal were clear".
5. To have just and adequate ideas of; to apprehended the meaning or intention of; to have knowledge of; to comprehend; to know; as, to understand a problem in Euclid; to understand a proposition or a declaration; the court understands the advocate or his argument; to understand the sacred oracles; to understand a nod or a wink.
6. To be apprised, or have information, of; to learn; to be informed of; to hear; as, I understand that Congress has passed the bill.
7. To recognize or hold as being or signifying; to suppose to mean; to interpret; to explain.
8. To mean without expressing; to imply tacitly; to take for granted; to assume.
9. To stand under; to support.
10. To have the use of the intellectual faculties; to be an intelligent being.
11. To be informed; to have or receive knowledge. know and comprehend the nature or meaning of; "She did not understand her husband"; "I understand what she means" perceive mentally; "Now I see!"; "I just can't see:
your point"; "Does she realize how important this decision is?"; "I don't understand the idea" believe to be the case; "I understand you have no previous experience?" make sense of a language; "She understands French"; "Can you read Greek?".
12. Understood is the past tense and past participle of understand. the past tense and past participle of understand.