See Also: understanding(1)(dictionary)
understanding(2)(dictionary)
Memorandum of understanding(finance)
understanding 1, noun(dictionary)
understanding 2, adjective(dictionary)

understanding(2) (iou)



understanding noun. OE.
[from UNDERSTAND + -ING1.]
Power or ability to understand; (the) intellect, the faculty of comprehending and reasoning; intelligence. OE.
Milton For Understanding rul'd not, and the Will Heard not her lore. R. Scruton Hirsch is..compelled to distinguish interpretation from understanding. A. Dillard Anthropologist..Lienhardt describes the animistic understanding of the Dinka tribe.
b. Mind, purpose, intent. rare. LME-M16.
Signification, meaning. ME-E18.
A person's intellectual ability or reasoning faculty. LME.
Sir W. Scott The idea of parting..never once occurred to the simplicity of his understanding.
a. Intelligence, information. L15-L16.
b. Comprehension of something; an individual's perception or judgement of a situation. M16.
B. Bettelheim The central concern informing Trilling's understanding and appreciation of literature.
slang. In pl.
a. Footwear, as boots or shoes. L18.
b. Legs; feet. E19.
A mutual arrangement or agreement; something agreed on, esp. informally. E19.
T. McGuane They bought the house..with the understanding that Mrs Callahan..could have a day in the house alone. B. Duffy Between them..was the tacit understanding that each would speak appreciatively..about the other.
Sympathetic awareness; tolerance; empathy. M20.
A. Walker To ask your understanding and forgiveness seems corniness personified.
Phrases: a good understanding, a right understanding amicable or cordial relations between people; harmony of feeling. of understanding intelligent, capable of judging with knowledge.