What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Captive vs Apprehend - What's the difference?

captive | apprehend |

As verbs the difference between captive and apprehend

is that captive is while apprehend is (archaic) to take or seize; to take hold of.

captive

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him. The captive made no resistance […].}}
  • One held prisoner.
  • (figurative) One charmed or subdued by beauty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.
  • Adjective

    (-)
  • Held prisoner; not free; confined.
  • * Milton
  • A poor, miserable, captive thrall.
  • Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Even in so short a space, my wonan's heart / Grossly grew captive to his honey words.
  • Of or relating to bondage or confinement; serving to confine.
  • captive''' chains; '''captive hours

    apprehend

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To take or seize; to take hold of.
  • * (rfdate), .
  • We have two hands to apprehend it.
  • To take or seize (a person) by legal process; to arrest.
  • to apprehend a criminal .
  • To take hold of with the understanding, that is, to conceive in the mind; to become cognizant of; to understand; to recognize; to consider.
  • * (rfdate), .
  • This suspicion of Earl Reimund, though at first but a buzz, soon got a sting in the king's head, and he violently apprehended it.
  • * (rfdate)
  • The eternal laws, such as the heroic age apprehended them.
  • *
  • To anticipate; especially, to anticipate with anxiety, dread, or fear; to fear.
  • * (rfdate) -- .
  • The opposition had more reason than the king to apprehend violence.
  • To think, believe, or be of opinion; to understand; to suppose.
  • To be apprehensive; to fear.
  • * (rfdate) .
  • It is worse to apprehend than to suffer.

    Usage notes

    To apprehend, comprehend. These words come into comparison as describing acts of the mind. Apprehend denotes the laying hold of a thing mentally, so as to understand it clearly, at least in part. Comprehend denotes the embracing or understanding it in all its compass and extent. We may apprehend many truths which we do not comprehend. The very idea of God supposes that he may be apprehended, though not comprehended, by rational beings. We may apprehend much of Shakespeare's aim and intention in the character of Hamlet or King Lear; but few will claim that they have comprehended all that is embraced in these characters. --Trench.
    (material dates from 1913)

    Derived terms

    * apprehension * misapprehend

    Synonyms

    * catch, seize, arrest, detain, capture, conceive, understand, imagine, believe, fear, dread