comprĕhensĭo (conp-), ōnis, f. [comprehendo], a seizing or laying hold of with the hands.
I Prop.
A In gen. (very rare): ingressus, cursus, sessio, comprehensio, Cic. N. D. 1, 34, 94; cf. id. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 47, 145.—
B Esp., a hostile seizure, arresting, catching, apprehending : sontium, Cic. Phil. 2, 8, 18.—
II Trop.
A In philos. lang., of a mental comprehending, perceiving; and in concr., a comprehension, perception, idea , transl. of the Gr. κατάληψις: mens amplectitur maxime cognitionem et istam κατάληψιν, quam, ut dixi, verbum e verbo exprimentes comprehensionem dicemus, cum ipsam per se amat, etc., Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 16, 31; cf. id. ib. 1, 11, 41 et saep.—In plur.: cogitationes comprehensionesque rerum, Cic. Fin. 3, 15, 49.—
2 The power to unite and grasp as a whole things which belong together : quanta ... consequentium rerum cum primis conjunctio et comprehensio esset in nobis, Cic. N. D. 2, 59, 147 Schoem. ad loc.—
B In rhet.
1 Expression, style , Cic. Or. 58, 198.—
2 Esp., a period : ut comprehensio numerose et apte cadat, Cic. Or. 44, 149; cf. id. Brut. 44, 162; 8, 34; 37, 140 Orell. N. cr.; Quint. 9, 4, 124; 9, 115, 121 et saep.