What does "apprehensive" mean?

Apprehensive: Knowing; conscious; cognizant. [R.] A man that has spent his younger years in vanity and folly, and is, by the grace of God, apprehensive of it. Jer. Taylor.

Additional senses

2.Relating to the faculty of apprehension. Judgment . . . is implied in every apprehensive act. Sir W. Hamilton.
3.Anticipative of something unfavorable' fearful of what may be coming; in dread of possible harm; in expectation of evil. Not at all apprehensive of evils as a distance. Tillotson. Reformers . . . apprehensive for their lives. Gladstone.
4.Sensible; feeling; perceptive. [R.] Thoughts, my tormentors, armed with deadly stings, Mangle my apprehensive, tenderest parts. Milton.

Sources

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00