Apprehend—Comprehend

The English often use the first of these two words where we use the second. Both expre an effort of the thinking faculty; but to apprehend is simply to take an idea into the mind—it is the mind's first effort—while to comprehend is fully to understand . We are dull or quick of apprehension . Children apprehend much that they do not comprehend . Trench says: "We apprehend many truths which we do not comprehend ." " Apprehend ," says Crabb, "expre es the weakest kind of belief, the having [of] the least idea of the presence of a thing." Apt. Often misused for likely , and sometimes for liable . "What is he apt to be doing?" "Where shall I be apt to find him?" "If properly directed, it will be apt to reach me." In such sentences as these, likely is the proper word to use. "If you go there, you will be apt to get into trouble." Here either likely or liable is the proper word, according to the thought the speaker would convey.