I.to lay hold of, to grasp, snatch, seize, catch, take (class.).
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: prehende auriculis, take by the ear-laps, a form of affectionate salutation, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 78: “sine te exorem, sine te prendam auriculis, sine dem savium,” id. Poen. 1, 2, 163; cf. Tib. 2, 5, 92: “fauces alicui,” Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 62: “quis me properantem prehendit pallio?” catches me by the cloak, id. Ep. 1, 1, 1: “dexteram,” id. ib. 2, 3, 65.—Of an embrace' alter ubi alterum bilingui manufesto inter se praehendunt, Plaut. Ps. 5, 1, 15; cf.: “aliquem manu,” Cic. de Or. 1, 56, 240: “perdix aucupem jam jam prehensurum effugiens,” Plin. 10, 33, 51, § 103; 30, 5, 12, § 40: “pisces,” Vulg. Johan. 21, 10.—
B. In partic.
1. To seize, occupy suddenly, take violent possession of: “Pharum,” Caes. B. C. 3, 112, 3: “quam prendimus arcem,” occupy, take refuge in, Verg. A. 2, 322.—
2. To lay or catch hold of, to detain one in order to speak with him: “tuos pater modo me prehendit: ait, etc.,” Ter. And. 2, 2, 16: “prendo hominem solum: Cur non, inquam,” id. Phorm. 4, 3, 15: “Syrus est prehendendus, atque exhortandus mihi,” id. Heaut. 3, 1, 89: “dextrā prehensum Continuit,” Verg. A. 2, 592; Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 11, 2: “prende C. Septimium,” Cic. Att. 12, 13, 2.—
3. To seize, take by surprise, catch in the act; constr. with in and abl., the simple abl., or gen.: “in furto ubi sis prehensus,” Plaut. As. 3, 2, 17: “in patenti Prensus Aegaeo,” Hor. C. 2, 16, 1: “prensus manifesto furto,” Gell. 11, 18, 7: eā nocte speculatores prensi servi tres, Auct. B. Hisp. 20, 5: quem mendaci praendit manufestum modo, caught in a lie, Plaut Bacch. 4, 4, 45.—
4. Of trees, to take root: “quarum stirpes tellus amplexa prehendit,” Cic. Arat. 116: “ut cum (pirorum plantae) prehenderint, inserantur,” Pall. 3, 25: “vites transferre, sine ambiguitate prehendendi,” id. 3, 10.—
6. Poet., to take in with the eye, to reach with the eye: “prendere aliquid oculorum lumine,” Lucr. 4, 1143: “vix oculo prendente modum,” taking in, embracing, Luc. 4, 20.—
II. Trop., of the mind, to seize, apprehend, comprehend (very rare): “cum animus ipsum (res omnes) moderantem atque regentem paene praehenderit,” Cic. Leg. 1, 23, 61.