understanding

English Online Dictionary. What means understanding‎? What does understanding mean?

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ʌndəˈstandɪŋ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌʌndɚˈstændɪŋ/
• Hyphenation: un‧der‧stand‧ing
• Rhymes: -ændɪŋ

Etymology 1

From Middle English understandinge, understondinge, from Old English understanding (“intelligence, understanding”), from Proto-West Germanic *undarstandingu, from Proto-Germanic *understandingō, equivalent to understand +‎ -ing (gerund ending). Cognate with Middle Dutch onderstaninge, Middle Low German understandinge, Middle High German understandunge.

Noun

understanding (countable and uncountable, plural understandings) (with of, but with for in sense of "sympathy")

1. (gerund, uncountable) The act of one that understands or comprehends; comprehension; knowledge; discernment.
2. (countable) Reason or intelligence; ability to grasp the full meaning of knowledge; ability to infer.
3. (countable) Opinion, judgement, or outlook.

5. (countable) An agreement of minds; harmony; something mutually understood or agreed upon.
   1. An informal contract; a mutual agreement.

   2. A reconciliation of differences.

6. (uncountable) Sympathy.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• intellection

Etymology 2

From Middle English understandyng, understondynge, understondinde, undirstondend, understandande, from Old English understandende, from Proto-West Germanic *undarstandandī, from Proto-Germanic *understandandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *understandaną (“to stand between, intercede, understand”), equivalent to understand +‎ -ing (present participle ending).

Adjective

understanding (comparative more understanding, superlative most understanding)

1. Showing compassion, tolerance, and forbearance.
2. (dated) Knowing; skilful.

Translations

Verb

understanding

1. present participle and gerund of understand

Old English

Alternative forms

• understandincg

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *undarstandingu, equivalent to understandan +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌun.derˈstɑn.dinɡ/, [ˌun.derˈstɑn.diŋɡ]

Noun

understanding f

1. intelligence
2. perception, understanding

Declension

Synonyms

• andġiet
• andġiete
• ferhþġewit
• ġearuwita
• ġeþanc

Descendants

• Middle English: understandinge, understondinge
  • English: understanding
  • Scots: understanding