Lewis & Short

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prĕhendo (prae-) and sync. pren-do (praen-), di, sum, 3, v. a. [prae-hendo; cf. Gr. γεντο, χανδάνω], to lay hold of, to grasp, snatch, seize, catch, take (class.).

  1. I. Lit.
    1. 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.
    2. B. In partic.
      1. 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. 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. 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. 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.
      5. 5. To reach, attain, arrive at (poet.): tandem Italiae fugientes prendimus oras, Verg. A. 6, 61.
      6. 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.
  2. 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.