Understand - Undiscerning

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Understand (ŭndẽrstănd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Understood (ŭndẽrst�d), and Archaic Understanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Understanding.] [OE. understanden, AS. understandan, literally, to stand under; cf. AS. forstandan to understand, G. verstehen. The development of sense is not clear. See , and .] 1. 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.
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Speaketh [i. e., speak thou] so plain at this time, I you pray,
That we may understande what ye say. Chaucer.
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I understand not what you mean by this. Shak.
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Understood not all was but a show. Milton.
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A tongue not understanded of the people. Bk. of Com. Prayer.
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2. To be apprised, or have information, of; to learn; to be informed of; to hear; as, I understand that Congress has passed the bill.
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3. To recognize or hold as being or signifying; to suppose to mean; to interpret; to explain.
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The most learned interpreters understood the words of sin, and not of Abel. Locke.
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4. To mean without expressing; to imply tacitly; to take for granted; to assume.
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War, then, war,
Open or understood, must be resolved. Milton.
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5. To stand under; to support. [Jocose & R.] Shak.
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Coloq. To give one to understand , to cause one to know. -- Coloq. To make one's self understood , to make one's meaning clear.
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Understand, v. i. 1. To have the use of the intellectual faculties; to be an intelligent being.
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Imparadised in you, in whom alone
I understand, and grow, and see. Donne.
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2. To be informed; to have or receive knowledge.
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I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah. Neh. xiii. 7.
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Understandable (ŭndẽrstăndȧb'l), a. Capable of being understood; intelligible. Chillingworth.
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Understander (ŭndẽrstăndẽr), n. One who understands, or knows by experience. [R.] Dryden.
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Understanding (ŭndẽrstăndĭng), a. Knowing; intelligent; skillful; as, he is an understanding man.
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Understanding, n. 1. The act of one who understands a thing, in any sense of the verb; knowledge; discernment; comprehension; interpretation; explanation.
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2. An agreement of opinion or feeling; adjustment of differences; harmony; anything mutually understood or agreed upon; as, to come to an understanding with another.
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He hoped the loyalty of his subjects would concur with him in the preserving of a good understanding between him and his people. Clarendon.
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3. The power to understand; the intellectual faculty; the intelligence; the rational powers collectively conceived an designated; the higher capacities of the intellect; the power to distinguish truth from falsehood, and to adapt means to ends.
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But there is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Job xxxii. 8.
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The power of perception is that which we call the understanding. Perception, which we make the act of the understanding, is of three sorts: 1. The perception of ideas in our mind; 2. The perception of the signification of signs; 3. The perception of the connection or repugnancy, agreement or disagreement, that there is between any of our ideas. All these are attributed to the understanding, or perceptive power, though it be the two latter only that use allows us to say we understand. Locke.
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In its wider acceptation, understanding is the entire power of perceiving an conceiving, exclusive of the sensibility: the power of dealing with the impressions of sense, and composing them into wholes, according to a law of unity; and in its most comprehensive meaning it includes even simple apprehension. Coleridge.
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4. Specifically, the discursive faculty; the faculty of knowing by the medium or use of general conceptions or relations. In this sense it is contrasted with, and distinguished from, the reason.
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I use the term understanding, not for the noetic faculty, intellect proper, or place of principles, but for the dianoetic or discursive faculty in its widest signification, for the faculty of relations or comparisons; and thus in the meaning in which “verstand” is now employed by the Germans. Sir W. Hamilton.
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Syn. -- Sense; intelligence; perception. See .
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Understandingly, adv. In an understanding manner; intelligibly; with full knowledge or comprehension; intelligently; as, to vote upon a question understandingly; to act or judge understandingly.
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The gospel may be neglected, but in can not be understandingly disbelieved. J. Hawes.
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Understate (?), v. t. To state or represent less strongly than may be done truthfully.
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Understatement (?), n. The act of understating, or the condition of being understated; that which is understated; a statement below the truth.
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Understock (?), v. t. To supply insufficiently with stock. A. Smith.
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Understood (?), imp. & p. p. of .
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Understrapper (?), n. A petty fellow; an inferior agent; an underling.
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This was going to the fountain head at once, not applying to the understrappers. Goldsmith.
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Understrapping, a. Becoming an understrapper; subservient. [R.] Sterne.
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Understratum (?), n.; pl. L. Understrata (�), E. Understratums (�). The layer, or stratum, of earth on which the mold, or soil, rests; subsoil.
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Understroke (?), v. t. To underline or underscore. Swift.
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Understudy (?), v. t. & i. (Theater) To study, as another actor's part, in order to be his substitute in an emergency; to study another actor's part.
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Understudy, n. One who studies another's part with a view to assuming it in an emergency.
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Undersuit (?), n. A suit worn under another suit; a suit of underclothes.
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Undertakable (?), a. Capable of being undertaken; practicable.
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Undertake (?), v. t. [imp. Undertook (?); p. p. Undertaken (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Undertaking.] [Under + take.] 1. To take upon one's self; to engage in; to enter upon; to take in hand; to begin to perform; to set about; to attempt.
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To second, or oppose, or undertake
The perilous attempt. Milton.
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2. Specifically, to take upon one's self solemnly or expressly; to lay one's self under obligation, or to enter into stipulations, to perform or to execute; to covenant; to contract.
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I 'll undertake to land them on our coast. Shak.
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3. Hence, to guarantee; to promise; to affirm.
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And he was not right fat, I undertake. Dryden.
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And those two counties I will undertake
Your grace shall well and quietly enjoiy. Shak.
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I dare undertake they will not lose their labor. Woodward.
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4. To assume, as a character. [Obs.] Shak.
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5. To engage with; to attack. [Obs.]
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It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offense to. Shak.
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6. To have knowledge of; to hear. [Obs.] Spenser.
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7. To take or have the charge of. [Obs.] “Who undertakes you to your end.” Shak.
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Keep well those that ye undertake. Chaucer.
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Undertake, v. i. 1. To take upon one's self, or assume, any business, duty, or province.
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O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me. Isa. xxxviii. 14.
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2. To venture; to hazard. [Obs.]
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It is the cowish terror of his spirit
That dare not undertake. Shak.
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3. To give a promise or guarantee; to be surety.
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But on mine honor dare I undertake
For good lord Titus' innocence in all. Shak.
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Undertaker (?), n. 1. One who undertakes; one who engages in any project or business. Beau. & Fl.
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2. One who stipulates or covenants to perform any work for another; a contractor.
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To sign deputations for undertakes to furnish their proportions of saltpeter. Evelyn.
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In come some other undertakes, and promise us the same or greater wonders. South.
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3. Specifically, one who takes the charge and management of funerals.
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Undertaking, n. 1. The act of one who undertakes, or engages in, any project or business. Hakluyt.
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2. That which is undertaken; any business, work, or project which a person engages in, or attempts to perform; an enterprise.
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3. Specifically, the business of an undertaker, or the management of funerals.
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4. A promise or pledge; a guarantee. A. Trollope.
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Undertapster (?), n. Assistant to a tapster.
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Undertaxed (?), a. Taxed too little, or at a lower rate than others.
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Undertenancy (?), n. Tenancy or tenure under a tenant or lessee; the tenure of an undertenant.
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Undertenant (?), n. The tenant of a tenant; one who holds lands or tenements of a tenant or lessee.
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Underthing (?), n. Something that is inferior and of little worth. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
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{ Undertide (?), Undertime (?), } n. [Under + , time. Cf. .] The under or after part of the day; undermeal; evening. [Obs.]
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He, coming home at undertime, there found
The fairest creature that he ever saw. Spenser.
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Undertone (?), n. A low or subdued tone or utterance; a tone less loud than usual.
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Undertook (?), imp. of .
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Undertow (?), n. (Naut.) The current that sets seaward near the bottom when waves are breaking upon the shore.
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Undertreasurer (?), n. An assistant treasurer.
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Underturn (?), v. t. To turn upside down; to subvert; to upset. [Obs.] Wyclif.
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Undervaluation (?), n. The act of undervaluing; a rate or value not equal to the real worth.
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Undervalue (?), v. t. 1. To value, rate, or estimate below the real worth; to depreciate.
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2. To esteem lightly; to treat as of little worth; to hold in mean estimation; to despise.
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In comparison of it I undervalued all ensigns of authority. Atterbury.
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I write not this with the least intention to undervalue the other parts of poetry. Dryden.
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Undervalue, n. A low rate or price; a price less than the real worth; undervaluation. Milton.
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Undervaluer (?), n. One who undervalues.
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Underverse (?), n. The lower or second verse. [Obs.]
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Undervest (?), n. An undershirt.
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Underviewer (?), n. See .
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Underwear (?), n. That which is worn under the outside clothing; underclothes.
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Underween (?), v. t. To undervalue. [Obs.]
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Underwent (?), imp. of .
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Underwhelm (?), v. t. To interest less than anticipated; to be dull to (a person).
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Underwhelming (?), a. 1. Less interesting than expected; dull.
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2. Smaller than expected or hoped; as, an underwhelming response.
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Underwing (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) One of the posterior wings of an insect.
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2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of noctuid moths belonging to Catocala and allied genera, in which the hind wings are banded with red and black or other conspicuous colors. Many of the species are called red underwing.
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Underwitted (?), a. Weak in intellect; half-witted; silly. [R.] Bp. Kennet.
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Underwood (?), n. Small trees and bushes that grow among large trees; coppice; underbrush; -- formerly used in the plural.
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Shrubs and underwoods look well enough while they grow within the shade of oaks and cedars. Addison.
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Underwork (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Underworked (?) or Underwrought (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Underworking.] 1. To injure by working secretly; to destroy or overthrow by clandestine measure; to undermine.
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But thou from loving England art so far,
That thou hast underwrought his lawful king. Shak.
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2. To expend too little work upon; as, to underwork a painting. Dryden.
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3. To do like work at a less price than; as, one mason may underwork another.
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Underwork, v. i. 1. To work or operate in secret or clandestinely. B. Jonson.
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2. To do less work than is proper or suitable.
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3. To do work for a less price than current rates.
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Underwork (?), n. Inferior or subordinate work; petty business. Addison.
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Underworker (?), n. 1. One who underworks.
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2. An inferior or subordinate workman. Waterland.
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Underworld (?), n. 1. The lower of inferior world; the world which is under the heavens; the earth.
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That overspreads (with such a reverence)
This underworld. Daniel.
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2. The mythological place of departed souls; Hades.
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3. The portion of the world which is below the horizon; the opposite side of the world; the antipodes. [R.]
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Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail,
That brings our friends up from the underworld. Tennyson.
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4. The inferior part of mankind. [R.] Atterbury.
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Underwrite (?), v. t. [imp. Underwrote (?), Obs. Underwrit (�); p. p. Underwritten (?), Obs. Underwrit; p. pr. & vb. n. Underwriting.] 1. To write under something else; to subscribe.
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What addition and change I have made I have here underwritten. Bp. Sanderson.
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2. To subscribe one's name to for insurance, especially for marine insurance; to write one's name under, or set one's name to, as a policy of insurance, for the purpose of becoming answerable for loss or damage, on consideration of receiving a certain premium per cent; as, individuals, as well as companies, may underwrite policies of insurance. B. Jonson.
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The broker who procures the insurance ought not, by underwriting the policy, to deprive the parties of his unbiased testimony. Marshall.
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Underwrite, v. i. To practice the business of insuring; to take a risk of insurance on a vessel or the like.
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Underwriter (?), n. One who underwrites his name to the conditions of an insurance policy, especially of a marine policy; an insurer.
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Underwriting, n. The business of an underwriter,
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Underyoke (?), v. t. To subject to the yoke; to make subject. Wyclif.
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Undeserve (?), v. t. [1st pref. un- + deserve.] To fail to deserve. [Obs.] Milton.
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Undeserver (?), n. One of no merit; one who is nor deserving or worthy. [Obs.] Shak.
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Undesigning (?), a. Having no artful, ulterior, or fraudulent purpose; sincere; artless; simple.
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Undestroyable (?), a. Indestructible.
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Undeterminable (?), a. Not determinable; indeterminable. Locke.
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Undeterminate (?), a. Nor determinate; not settled or certain; indeterminate. South. -- Undeterminateness, n. Dr. H. More.
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Undetermination (?), n. Indetermination. Sir M. Hale.
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Undevil (?), v. t. [1st pref. un- + devil.] To free from possession by a devil or evil spirit; to exorcise. [Obs.]
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They boy having gotten a habit of counterfeiting . . . would not be undeviled by all their exorcisms. Fuller.
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Undevotion (?), n. Absence or want of devotion.
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Undid (?), imp. of .
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Undifferentiated (?), a. Not differentiated; specifically (Biol.), homogenous, or nearly so; -- said especially of young or embryonic tissues which have not yet undergone differentiation (see , 3), that is, which show no visible separation into their different structural parts.
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Undigenous (?), a. [L. unda a wave + -genous.] Generated by water. [R.] Kirwan.
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Undigestible (?), a. Indigestible.
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Undight (?), v. t. [1st pref. un- + dight.] To put off; to lay aside, as a garment. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Undigne (?), a. Unworthy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Undine (?), n. [G. undine, or F. ondin, ondine, from L. unda a wave, water.] One of a class of fabled female water spirits who might receive a human soul by intermarrying with a mortal.
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Undiocesed (?), a. Unprovided with a diocese; having no diocese. Milton.
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Undirect (?), v. t. [1st pref. un- + direct, v. t.] To misdirect; to mislead. [Obs.]
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who make false fires to undirect seamen in a tempest. Fuller.
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Undirect, a. [Pref. un- not + direct.] Indirect.
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Undirected, a. [In senses 1 and 2, pref. un- not + directed; in sense 3 properly p. p. of undirect.] 1. Not directed; not guided; left without direction.
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2. Not addressed; not superscribed, as a letter.
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3. Misdirected; misled; led astray. [R.]
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Undirectly (?), adv. Indirectly. Strype.
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Undiscerning (?), n. Want of discernment. [R.] Spectator.
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