Comprise
/kəmˈpraɪz/noun
To include or consist of something as a whole made up of parts.
Did you know?Comprise comes through Old French from Latin *comprehendere* / *comprehens-* (“to seize, grasp, take hold of”), the same ancient root family behind words about arresting, understanding, and mentally ‘grabbing’ something.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
comprehendere
“to seize, grasp, or take together”
Late Latin
Latin
comprehens-
“past participial stem used in compounds and learned forms”
Old French
Old French
comprendre
“to include; to contain; to comprehend”
14th Century
English
comprise
“to contain or include”
Modern English
English
comprise
“to consist of or include as parts of a whole”
Explore more surprising origins