prehend-, prehens-

A reference as to how very strong criticism or expressions of disapproval are conveyed based on perceived faults or mistakes: Sharon's tennis coach quite often reprehensibly reminded her of what she needed to do in order to be a champion player in the coming international tournaments.

An act of criticism and condemnation: Theresa was called into the principal's office at school where she experienced a reprehension regarding her unexcused absences and for being tardy to class so often.

Descriptive of an act of censure or criticism: Richard was condemned for making reprehensive remarks about how inadequate his co-worker was when she made her financial report to their supervisor.

Descriptive of how a shameful, heinous, or villainous action is performed: An assassination is certainly a reprehensively terrible thing to do.

1. To delay the impending punishment or prison sentence of a condemned criminal: An impending punishment of death was reprieved to life in a penitentiary for the convicted criminal.
2. To relieve temporarily from an evil: At last the wind came and blew all the mosquitoes away and reprieved Tom and Susan from their buzzing and biting while camping near the lake during the summer.
3. Any respite or temporary relief: For Jane, the first time at the rock concert proved to be much too loud for her and finally the intermission relieved her at least for the time.
4. Etymology: to delay the execution or punishment of person. In 1571, reprive, "take back to prison, remand"; alteration (perhaps influenced by Middle English repreven, "contradict, refute, disapprove, blame"; a variant of reproven) from Middle English repryen, "to remand, to detain"; probably borrowed from Middle French repris, past participle of reprendre, "to take back".

1. An act of retaliation or revenge as a result of an offense that has been done by an enemy or an opponent: The attack by the opposing football player against Jim's quarterback resulted in a reprisal of a counterattack by one of his teammates.
2. Etymology: from Old French reprisaille which came from Latin reprehendere, "to pull back"; from re-, "back" + prehendere, "to grasp".

1. To encounter suddenly or unexpectedly; to take or to catch unawares: Shirley's little boy was surprised when she caught him taking cookies from a container without her permission.
2. To cause people to feel wonder, astonishment, or amazement, as at something not anticipated or expected: David was surprised when he received a birthday call from a neighbor who had moved away years ago.
3. Etymology: "unexpected attack" or "capture", from Middle French surprise, "taking unawares" from the noun use of Old French surprendre, "to overtake"; from sur-, "over" + prendre, "to take"; from Latin prendere, contracted from prehendere "to grasp, to seize".

Anyone who takes another person or people into custody unexpectedly: The police are often considered to be surprisers when they find and capture criminals who are also surprisers when they commit their illegal acts.

1. Characteristic of how something unexpectedly or unusual happens: The washing machine mechanic was surprisingly able to get the washer to work efficiently again after it was not working at all.
2. Etymology: from Old French surprendre, "to surprise" from sur-, "over" + prendre, "to take".