What’s the difference between apprehension and comprehension?
Dictionary definitions don’t seem to distinguish between the two adequately.
It’s not the fear/anxiety aspect of apprehension that I am concerned with.
Joyce has illustrated my problem perfectly: definition 4 of apprehension and def. 2 of comprehension are identical.
Good God! I turn my back for a couple of days and suddenly there are 98 answers to this question!!
Zen’s distinction is beautifully clear but there are so many other good answers that I’m going to have to call a vote!
Thanks everyone 
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apprehension is a nervous fear associated with something either known or unknown.
comprehension is the understanding of a thing.
Once you comprehend a situation properly you might become apprehensive. This might manifest itself as anxiety.
However, if you don’t comprehend or fully understand a situation properly you might not be apprehensive, and proceed with less inhibition.
apprehension [áppri hénsh’n]
(plural apprehensions)
noun
1. dread: a feeling of anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen
2. idea: an idea formed by observation or experience
3. arrest: the taking of a criminal suspect into custody (formal)
4. ability to understand: the power or ability to grasp the importance, significance, or meaning of something (formal)
[14th century. Directly or via Old French from the late Latin stem apprehension- , from apprehens- , the past participle stem of Latin apprehendere (see apprehend).]
comprehension [kómpri hénsh’n]
noun
1. understanding: the grasping of the meaning of something
2. mental ability: the ability to grasp the meaning of something
It’s beyond my comprehension.
3. educ set of questions on text: an exercise consisting of a set of questions on a short text, designed to test students’ understanding of it
[15th century. Directly or via French from the Latin stem comprehension- , from comprehens- , the past participle stem of comprehendere (see comprehend).]
This is an excellent multifaceted question – seemingly innocent enough, yet profoundly complex. I understand the spirit in which you are asking the question. …Although, I must say I also enjoyed your immaculate sense of humor in referring to a “dictionary” for the possible resolution of this otherwise convoluted conundrum!
…Having said that, and so far as YA obviously not being the proper milieu for detailed and rigorous contemplations over such knotty issues, allow me NOT to consider the Dialectics, the Synergetic-informed Approach or the Dual Knowledge Theory aspects involved. I would also try to refrain from any Contextualism and Organicism (i.e. Synthetic World Hypotheses Based) type discussions here. So the challenge is: What can we say about this inquiry that would not overstep the obvious time and space limitations of the YA format? I’m afraid the answer is: Perhaps very little; even so, let’s give it a try. …First of all, as far as the forms of knowledge is concerned, Apprehension can be considered as “knowledge by direct acquaintance”, whereas Comprehension is more “knowledge about” (and I realize this may not necessarily be the most kosher construct/distinction). Many times, for instance, complex philosophical and/or theological doctrines (or even scientific theories for that matter) maybe apprehended and yet not comprehended by the human mind. In interpreting an artistic piece, for example, the creator’s intentions may easily lead to the critic’s apprehension, yet full comprehension is usually always lacking (for whatever reason, including trans-dimensionality, meaninglessness, manipulated perception, etc.) …In general it is good to keep in mind that in comparing degrees of mental perception (e.g. Apprehension vs. Comprehension) one may not necessarily run into apparent logical contradictions, before one reaches the limits of fullest understanding. …And I guess that’s the best I can leave with you here on the subject. Keep looking into this – it will take you on the greatest intellectual roller coaster ride of your life. Good Luck and Have Fun!
Comprehend \Com`pre*hend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comprehended;
p. pr. & vb. n. Comprehending.] [L. comprehendere,
comprehensum; com- + prehendere to grasp, seize; prae before
+ hendere (used only in comp.).
**********
Apprehend \Ap`pre*hend"\ ([a^]p`pr[-e]*h[e^]nd"), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Apprehended; p. pr. & vb. n. Apprehending.] [L.
apprehendere; ad + prehendere to lay hold of, seize; prae
before + -hendere (used only in comp.)
The roots of these seem to be the same.
Perhaps the difference is: apprehend – to HAVE the answer.
Comprehend – to not only have, but to UNDERSTAND the answer.
Com- \Com-\
), signifying with,
A prefix from the Latin preposition c um (Yahoo censored this!
together, in conjunction
apprehension–1.uneasiness,dread 2.understanding 3.Arrest,capture
comprehension–text set as a test of understanding?
apprehension is Fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future; dread.
comprehension is
The act or fact of grasping the meaning, nature, or importance of; understanding.
apprehension is like suspension. comprehension is like thinking.
Apprehension means the police have arrested you, and comprehension means you know why they have arrested you!
Apprehnsion is being nervous about something or obtaining an end or even a person as in the criminal was apprehended.
Comprehension is understanding something fully.
to apprehend is to "understand " what has been ( i.e. the question) put in front of you verbally…… but you have no theory to base your answer. ………whereas…………
"comprehension" is to understand the question and have a logicable answer to the question and/or theory with data to base your answer.
apprehension-feeling worried or nervous about something
comprehension(comprehend)-understanding something
apprehension is waiting,comprehension is understanding
apprehension means your not too sure of yourself…
comprehension means you understand fully
Try the encarta dictionaries and encylopedias. Even though I think that not even the Encarta Dictionary can come up with the right answer. If you want to see the Encarta Dictionary and other do-hickies refer to the website in the "Source(s)??"
Although ZedNeon has a handful of probability I will offer another view.
Apprehension is in my opinion a direct relation to the brains assimilation process.
Comprehension is when apprehension (assimilation)has been intellectually imbued and properly sorted into the accomodation theory of the intelligence compound confines of the human brain. Jose
Apprehension means not knowing what is to come and having anxiety or fear relating to the unknown
Comprehension means understanding what is involved or included in a situation or feeling.
If a particular usage of each word can mean to have a cognitive grasp, then they are simply synonyms in that instance.
Comprehension is being on a lonely highway and noticing a semi in the distance is edging over into your lane.
Apprehension is the OH SH*T moment when you realize he’s not scooting back into his own lane.
APPREHENSION – anxiety about the future or a fear that something unpleasant is going to happen.
COMPREHENSION – the ability to understand completely and be aware of a situation, facts, etc.
Aprehension-know
Comprehension-understand
Thank you for asking this question.
THINKING ABOUT FUTURE ESPECIALLY BAD THINGS IS APPREHENSION
TO UNDERSTAND THE THINGS IS COMPREHEND
Who gives a crap they are both the same thing .Why don’t you save the deep thought from something more important like why we are only go for about 100 years if were lucky?
Apprehend (CATCH) -
to catch and arrest someone who has not obeyed the law:
The police have finally apprehended the killer.
Apprehension -
Both the army and the police were involved in the apprehension of the terrorists.
Apprehend (UNDERSTAND) –
to understand something
————————–
Comprehend — to understand something completely:
i.e: I fail to comprehend their attitude.
He doesn’t seem to comprehend the scale of the problem
[+ question word] I’ll never comprehend why she did what she did.
[+ that] I don’t think he fully comprehends that she won’t be here to help him.
1 [U] the ability to understand completely and be aware of a situation, facts, etc:
He has no comprehension of the size of the problem.
How she manages to fit so much into a working day is beyond my comprehension (= I cannot understand it).
————————–
bottom line:
Apprehansion = To understand/ (got)catch it.
Comprehenion = To fully/completely understand.
My Apprehension is that , I could not comprehend what ZedNeon wants to say. This should be clear enough difference between the two.I have a headache now.
Actually, the dictionary should be your best bet. Look in several and not just the ones online. If you’re in college, your school should subscribe to an online version of the Oxford English Dictionary, which has the most detailed information on every word.
Are you in need of a specific definition within a field like pschology or philosophy? If so, check a special dictionary for that field. Or post a question and someone who’s at a college and can use a database can find out for you.
Apprehension does mean to be concerned or worried and comprehension means understanding. Others’ replies with the definitions and pronounciations are very thorough.
i don’t know
apprehension is a movement of understanding from without within and comprwhwnsion is understanding from within concerning things that started of as vague or unclear
Simply put:
Apprehension = reluctance
Comprehension = understanding
In psychology, apprehension (Lat. ad, "to"; prehendere, "to seize") is a term applied to a model of consciousness in which nothing is affirmed or denied of the object in question, but the mind is merely aware of ("seizes") it.
In logic, the comprehension of an object is the totality of intensions, that is, properties or qualities, that it possesses.
comprehensive is the ability to absorb once topic.As you read a story and you can get entirely what you read you have a good comprehension. while apprehension is somewhat going through with the decision with feeling of anxiety
well in ur context, apprehension means acknowledging; accepting the existence of a subject or matter and comprehension means understanding the subject or matter.
to apprehend means to have mental and intuitive awareness of something and comprehend means complete realization and knowledge of something
It’s knowing that your afraid of the truth and unwilling to act on it.
apprehesion means the suspicion or fear especially of future evil. comprehesion is the capacity of understanding fully.
you’ll forget all the difference!!!!!!!
apprehension is the ability to understand things
comprehension is the amount of understanding (from little to fully)
it,s the difference between app and comp!
apprehension means fear and comprehension means understanding.
I think apprehension is, the concern or worry, of an unknown future event or happening. Where as comprehension is the same thing, but with knowledge, of what the event, or happening will be.
Apprehension is the ability to understand. Comprehension is actually understanding.
apprehension:apprehension
A noun
1 apprehension, arrest, catch, collar, pinch, taking into custody
the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal); "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar"
Category Tree:
act; human action; human activity
╚action
╚accomplishment; achievement
╚deed; feat; effort; exploit
╚acquiring; getting
╚capture; gaining control; seizure
╚apprehension, arrest, catch, collar, pinch, taking into custody
2 understanding, apprehension, discernment, savvy
the cognitive condition of someone who understands; "he has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect"
Category Tree:
psychological feature
╚cognition; knowledge; noesis
╚process; cognitive process; mental process; operation; cognitive operation
╚higher cognitive process
╚knowing
╚understanding, apprehension, discernment, savvy
╚realization; realisation; recognition
╚insight; brainstorm; brainwave
╚hindsight
╚grasping
╚appreciation; grasp; hold
╚smattering
╚self-knowledge
╚comprehension
and comprehension is:comprehension
A noun
1 comprehension
an ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result); "how you can do that is beyond my comprehension"; "he was famous for his comprehension of American literature"
Category Tree:
psychological feature
╚cognition; knowledge; noesis
╚process; cognitive process; mental process; operation; cognitive operation
╚higher cognitive process
╚knowing
╚understanding; apprehension; discernment; savvy
╚comprehension
2 inclusion, comprehension
the relation of comprising something; "he admired the inclusion of so many ideas in such a short work"
Category Tree:
abstraction
╚relation
╚connection; connexion; connectedness
╚involvement
╚inclusion, comprehension
The act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
Painful expectation
The cognitive condition of someone who understands
Fearful expectation or anticipation
"the student looked around the examination room with apprehension"
The relation of comprising something
An ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result)
"how you can do that is beyond my comprehension"; "he was famous for his comprehension of American literature"
Since both words have to do with "knowledge," after reading several books on language, the only difference I can see is that "compehension" seems to be the stronger definition. In other words, if you comprehend something, you know it fully, but to apprehend something, you only have some cognition or intuition regarding a subject.
James J. Kilpatrick, who writes a column called "The Writer’s Art" said that the writer’s ear is often the best judge of what "sounds right." I think that’s a good guideline.
After writing this, found the following on a web site:
Technical Literature and Creative Literature
By Gururaj B.S. and Shankar Rajanala
Apprehension to comprehension
The notion of apprehension, that precedes comprehension, is related to both suggestion and ambiguity. When a text only suggests the meaning, you first apprehend the meaning of the text. Maybe, after reading it again, the full comprehension dawns on you. The primary job of creative literature is to delight, which lies in the path from apprehension to comprehension.
I think apprehension is the dread that something will happen, or it could be the act of sanctioning, you know, like scolding someone. Comprehension is the understanding of something. Ya, i think thats it.
Thanks for pointing out Joyce’s info. There IS still a difference. Focusing just on the notion of "understanding," here’s my take:
APPREHENSION is the notion of understanding the gravity of a situation, including all implications and contingencies. It connotes "utmost importance."
COMPREHENSION is very literal – simply the act of understanding an event or a communication such that it can be conveyed accurately to another reader or listener not present to witness the original matter at hand. It connotes "thoroughness and accuracy," which is the meaning of the related word "comprehensiveness."
Your question is a good one – it illustrates why English is one of the world’s toughest languages to master.
I like what Zen said…the two words have the same written definition. She looks at the Latin roots.
Although with out looking at the definition, apprehension seems to be more or a fear, whereas comprehension is an understanding. So apprehension may be getting it but not understanding it :and comprehension is getting it but understanding it as well.
Example: A cop "apprehends" a suspect (catches him for shoplifiting). Once he catches him and talks to him he understands that he is homeless and needed the food that he stole to survive. The cop now "comprehends" the suspects actions.
Zen has you looking at the root of the words which is a good way to start.
apprehension is being leary of something, comprhension is understanding something
Comprehension is what you understand. Apprehension is a reluctancy to do something.