18 uses
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Definition
to understand something — especially to understand it completely
- He did not thoroughly comprehend the meaning of his father's speech,Chapter 20 (56% in)
comprehend = understand
- On coming up from dinner, however, (N.B. — I dine between twelve and one o'clock; the housekeeper, a matronly lady, taken as a fixture along with the house, could not, or would not, comprehend my request that I might be served at five) — on mounting the stairs with this lazy intention, and stepping into the room, I saw a servant-girl on her knees surrounded by brushes and coal-scuttles, and raising an infernal dust as she extinguished the flames with heaps of cinders.Chapter 2 (2% in)
- There was such anguish in the gush of grief that accompanied this raving, that my compassion made me overlook its folly, and I drew off, half angry to have listened at all, and vexed at having related my ridiculous nightmare, since it produced that agony; though WHY was beyond my comprehension.Chapter 3 (76% in)
- With that he dashed headforemost out of the room, amid the merriment of the master and mistress, and to the serious disturbance of Catherine; who could not comprehend how her remarks should have produced such an exhibition of bad temper.Chapter 7 (19% in)
- The notion of ENVYING Catherine was incomprehensible to him, but the notion of grieving her he understood clearly enough.Chapter 7 (36% in)
- This is for the sake of one who comprehends in his person my feelings to Edgar and myself.Chapter 9 (51% in)
- Nay, there's no comprehending it.Chapter 10 (18% in)
- Leaving aside the degradation of an alliance with a nameless man, and the possible fact that his property, in default of heirs male, might pass into such a one's power, he had sense to comprehend Heathcliff's disposition: to know that, though his exterior was altered, his mind was unchangeable and unchanged.Chapter 10 (60% in)
- He raised his missile to hurl it; I commenced a soothing speech, but could not stay his hand: the stone struck my bonnet; and then ensued, from the stammering lips of the little fellow, a string of curses, which, whether he comprehended them or not, were delivered with practised emphasis, and distorted his baby features into a shocking expression of malignity.Chapter 11 (13% in)
- And say what I could, I was incapable of making her comprehend it to be her own; so I rose and covered it with a shawl.Chapter 12 (27% in)
- He replied in a jargon I did not comprehend.Chapter 13 (31% in)
- Two words would comprehend my future — DEATH and HELL: existence, after losing her, would be hell.Chapter 14 (37% in)
- Her hat was hung against the wall, and she seemed perfectly at home, laughing and chattering, in the best spirits imaginable, to Hareton — now a great, strong lad of eighteen — who stared at her with considerable curiosity and astonishment: comprehending precious little of the fluent succession of remarks and questions which her tongue never ceased pouring forth.Chapter 18 (47% in)
- She did not comprehend it; and hard work I had to obtain a promise that she would not lay the grievance before her father.Chapter 18 (98% in)
- Linton repeated his laugh, and glanced at Hareton tauntingly; who certainly did not seem quite clear of comprehension at that moment.Chapter 21 (55% in)
- She stared, but soon comprehending why I counselled her to utter the falsehood, she assured me she would not complain.Chapter 28 (80% in)
- Then she comprehended that Earnshaw took the master's reputation home to himself; and was attached by ties stronger than reason could break — chains, forged by habit, which it would be cruel to attempt to loosen.Chapter 33 (51% in)
- Earnshaw and I, the sexton, and six men to carry the coffin, comprehended the whole attendance.Chapter 34 (85% in)
There are no more uses of "comprehend" in Wuthering Heights.
Typical Usage
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