3. assimilate, absorb, digest, take in, appreciate.
4. gather, hear, learn of, get word, hear of, get wind of.
5. believe, opine, think, fancy, take it, conceive; infer, surmise, conjecture, conclude, take to mean; presume, suppose, estimate, figure, Inf., Dial, reckon; assume, daresay, venture to say, take for granted; interpret, construe, deduce, reason.
6. empathize with, show compassion for, commiserate, pity; sympathize with, be in sympathy with; tolerate, accept.
understanding, n. 1. comprehension, cognition, cognizance, consciousness; knowledge, realization, awareness; grasp, hold, handle, Inf. fix; interpretation, conception, idea, view, approach.
2. intelligence, intellect, Gk. Philos, nous, intellectuality, aptitude; mind, mentality, brain, brains, Inf. gray matter, brainpower, reason, sense.
3. acumen, perspicacity, astuteness, penetration; discernment, apperception, apprehension, perception, percipience, insight, enlightenment, intuition, Obs. skill; keenness, shrewdness, savvy; sagacity, sageness, wisdom, sapience, sapiency, Archaic, counsel.
4. conversance, acquaintance, intimacy, familiarity; proficiency, skillfulness, dexterity, adroitness, deftness, know-how, savoir-faire; capableness, adeptness, address, efficiency; competence, competency, mastery, expertness.
5. agreement, arrangement, covenant, bargain, compact, pact, concordat, entente, contract; accordance, settlement, reconciliation, conciliation, alliance, treaty, truce; cooperation, tolerability, acquiescence.
-adj. 6. empathic, compassionate, commiserative; merciful, clement, forbearing, lenient, forgiving; feeling, tender, kind, considerate, thoughtful; sympathetic, condolent; tolerant, accepting, patient.
7. intelligent, brilliant, incisive; proficient, adroit, adept, deft, skillful, masterful, expert; competent, capable, comprehensive, thorough.
understate, v. de-emphasize, downplay, play down, Inf. soft-pedal, make light or little of, minimize, reduce the importance of, not do justice to.
understudy, n. double, substitute, sub, stand-in, fill-in, replacement, alternate, backup, pinch hitter.
undertake, v. 1. take on or upon oneself, put on oneself, assume, accept, shoulder, take or assume responsibility for, take in charge, bear the burden of; enter upon, begin, start, commence, set about, embark on, venture upon; tackle, endeavor, try, attempt, essay, try one's hand at, Inf. have a go at, Inf. give [s.t.] a go, give [s.t.] a whirl, take a shot at, Inf. take a crack at; strive, bend over backward, knock oneself out, do one's best, Inf do one's damnedest, make every effort.
2. promise, pledge, agree to, give one's word or solemn word, give one's word of honor, give one's parole, Inf. cross one's heart and hope to die; vow, solemnly swear, state on one's honor, swear to, declare or state under oath, Law. testify; assure, offer assurance, aver, asseverate, affirm, avouch, declare, state, profess; guarantee, warrant, vouch for, attest to, bear witness to, testify to; engage, oblige, obligate, contract, covenant, enter an agreement, make a bargain or deal, shake on it; endorse, sign, Inf. sign on the dotted line.
undertaker, n. mortician, funeral director, embalmer; Euph. grief therapist.
undertaking, n. 1. project, enterprise, venture, operation, campaign; program, proposition, deal; job, game, task, effort, work; contract, commitment, obligation, commission, assignment; pursuit, quest, search.
