I.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, 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. καταληψις: 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, 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.
