Pronunciation: [ˌapɹɪhˈɛnd] (IPA) 
The word "apprehend" is spelled with two P's and an E in the middle, represented in IPA phonetic transcription as /ˌæp.ɹɪˈhɛnd/. The first syllable is pronounced with the short 'a' sound, as in "cat", followed by the stress on the second syllable. The final syllable has a silent 'd' and is pronounced with the vowel sound 'eh' as in "men". Apprehend means to understand or perceive something, or to arrest or capture a suspect.
Apprehend is a verb with multiple definitions that can be used both in a formal and informal context. The term is commonly used to refer to the act of understanding or grasping something intellectually or mentally. It involves perceiving or comprehending an idea, concept, or information. For example, "After several readings, I finally apprehended the underlying meaning of the poem."
Additionally, apprehend can also mean to arrest or seize someone in order to bring them into legal custody. In this context, it typically implies that a person has been caught or apprehended by law enforcement authorities due to their involvement in a crime or suspicion of criminal activity. For instance, "The police apprehended the suspect after an intensive investigation."
Moreover, apprehend can be used to signify a feeling of fear, anxiety, or worry about something that might happen. It entails a sense of anticipation or unease regarding a future event or situation. For example, "She apprehended the upcoming presentation with great anxiety."
Overall, apprehend is a versatile verb that can denote understanding intellectually, capturing a suspect, or even anticipating a future event with a sense of worry. Its meaning can vary depending on the context in which it is used.
To take hold of; to seize; to understand; to think on with fear.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "apprehend" has Latin roots. It derives from the Latin word "apprehendere", which is a combination of the prefix "ad" meaning "to" and the verb "prehendere", meaning "to seize" or "to grasp". Over time, the word "apprehend" has come to mean "to capture", "to arrest", or "to understand" in English.
