【Apprehend】 and 【comprehend】 mean to lay hold of something with the mind so as to know it but together with their derivative nouns apprehension and comprehension are clearly distinguished in psychological use.

【Apprehend】 and apprehension do not imply attainment of full knowledge or of complete understanding but only a glimpsing of the nature, meaning, or significance of the object of thought; 【comprehend】 and comprehension imply an understanding of the object of thought in its entire compass and extent. (see also: Understand vs 【Comprehend】 vs Appreciate and Include vs 【Comprehend】 vs Embrace vs Involve vs Imply vs Subsume)

• The infinite distances of space are too great for the human mind to 【comprehend】 .
• She could not 【comprehend】 how someone would risk people's lives in that way.

【Apprehend】 may suggest a single act of the mind and 【comprehend】 a complex and laborious process, but this distinction is not so essential as that between imperfect and perfect understanding; thus, one apprehends many things (as infinity or beauty) which one can never 【comprehend】 ; one apprehends many things as a child (as mother love) which one does not 【comprehend】 until late in life. (see also: Arrest vs 【Apprehend】 vs Attach vs Detain and Foresee vs Foreknow vs Divine vs 【Apprehend】 vs Anticipate)

• And I have tried to 【apprehend】 the Pythagorean power by which number holds away above the flux.
• In all cases, you 【apprehend】 something that you were blind to before.

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