apprehension
noun
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Latin Helps Build Apprehension
The Latin verb prehendere really grabs our attention. It means "to grasp" or "to seize," and it is an ancestor of various English words. It teamed up with the prefix ad- (which takes the form ap- before p and means "to," "toward," or "near") to form apprehendere, the Latin predecessor of our words apprehension, apprehend, and apprehensive. When prehendere joined the prefix com- ("with," "together," "jointly"), Latin got comprehendere, and English eventually got comprehend, comprehension, and comprehensive. Prehendere also gave us the words comprise, prehensile ("adapted for seizing or grasping"), prison, reprehend, and reprise, among others.
Synonyms
Examples of apprehension in a Sentence
Jack Kelly, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Starting in fiscal 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection began reporting encounters, a combination of apprehensions and Title 42 expulsions.
—Maria Ramirez Uribe, Austin American-Statesman, 20 Nov. 2024
The prospect of mass deportations is generating fear and apprehension among families with noncitizen members and businesses that employ undocumented workers.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
The cover highlights reactions ranging from Wall Street's approval to Europe's concern, indicating that Trump's return has both domestic and international implications, stirring optimism and apprehension alike.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apprehension 
Dictionary Entries Near apprehension
Cite this Entry
“Apprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprehension. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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apprehension
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apprehension
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