comprehension
UK[ˌkɒmprɪˈhenʃn]US[ˌkɑːmprɪˈhenʃn]
n
the ability to understand something
n
an exercise that tests how well students understand a written or spoken passage
Morpheme Breakdown
com
prehens
ion
com
together
prehens
to seize
ion
Etymology
the word "comprehension" originates from the latin verb 'comprehendere', meaning "to seize together, to grasp fully." this verb itself is a compound of the prefix 'com-' (together) and 'prehendere' (to seize). the literal sense of physically grasping something evolved metaphorically into the mental act of grasping ideas or understanding concepts fully. entering english via old french, the suffix '-ion' was added to form the noun describing the state or capacity of understanding, thus completing the journey from a physical action to an abstract intellectual faculty.
Analysis
Structure: com + prehens + ion
com: latin origin, a prefix meaning "together" or "with".
prehens: latin origin, from the root of 'prehendere', meaning "to seize" or "to grasp".
ion: latin origin, a suffix forming nouns indicating an action, process, or state.
Examples
the problem is beyond my comprehension.
the teacher gave us a listening comprehension test.
a look of dawning comprehension spread across her face.