[sammyg2]

Main Entry: un·der·stand
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): un·der·stood \-ˈstu̇d\; un·der·stand·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English understandan, from under + standan to stand
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 a : to grasp the meaning of (understand Russian)
b : to grasp the reasonableness of (his behavior is hard to understand)
c : to have thorough or technical acquaintance with or expertness in the practice of (understand finance)
d : to be thoroughly familiar with the character and propensities of (understands children)
2 : to accept as a fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty (we understand that he is returning from abroad)
3 : to interpret in one of a number of possible ways
4 : to supply in thought as though expressed (“to be married” is commonly understood after the word engaged)
intransitive verb
1 : to have understanding : have the power of comprehension
2 : to achieve a grasp of the nature, significance, or explanation of something
3 : to believe or infer something to be the case
4 : to show a sympathetic or tolerant attitude toward something