The word "apprehension" is spelled with three syllables: /ˌæprɪˈhɛnʃən/. The first syllable is pronounced with the short "a" sound and the second syllable has the unstressed "i" sound. The third syllable ends with the "shun" sound, spelled "-tion" in standard English. "Apprehension" can mean the act of understanding or perceiving something, or it can refer to fear or anxiety about something that might happen in the future. It is important to spell this word correctly to convey the intended meaning.
Apprehension is a noun that refers to the act or state of perceiving, understanding, or grasping something intellectually. It is the ability to comprehend or comprehend something, particularly the ability to grasp the nature or significance of an idea, situation, or concept. Apprehension can also refer to the feeling of anxiety, fear, or uneasiness that arises when one anticipates something unpleasant or threatening.
In its intellectual sense, apprehension involves the ability to grasp or comprehend information, often involving the skills of observation, discernment, or judgment. In this context, it implies a deep or profound level of understanding, often requiring intuition, insight, or cognitive reasoning.
On the other hand, apprehension can also describe the emotional or psychological state of unease, worry, or fear that arises in response to an anticipated or perceived threat or danger. This sense of apprehension often manifests as a feeling of nervousness, tension, or fearfulness, usually connected to future events or uncertainties. It can be associated with a sense of impending doom or foreboding. Apprehension in this sense is closely related to anxiety and can manifest physically in symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, or restlessness.
Overall, apprehension encompasses both cognitive understanding and emotional responses, reflecting the multifaceted nature of this term. It describes both the act of understanding and the emotional experience of fear or unease.
The act of taking or seizing; the being able to understand; suspicion; fear.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "apprehension" can be traced back to the Latin word "apprehensio", which is derived from the verb "apprehendere". "Apprehendere" is a combination of "ad" (meaning "to" or "toward") and "prehendere" (meaning "to seize" or "to grasp"). Hence, "apprehension" originally referred to the act of seizing or grasping something. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to encompass the act of perceiving or understanding something mentally. Today, "apprehension" commonly refers to a feeling of anxiety or fear about something that is going to happen.