Understand \Un`der*stand"\ ([u^]n`d[~e]r*st[a^]nd"), v. t. [imp.
& p. p. Understood, 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
Under, and Stand.]
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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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