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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Apprehension \Ap`pre*hen"sion\, n. [L. apprehensio: cf. F.
appr['e]hension. See {Apprehend}.]
1. The act of seizing or taking hold of; seizure; as, the
hand is an organ of apprehension. --Sir T. Browne.
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2. The act of seizing or taking by legal process; arrest; as,
the felon, after his apprehension, escaped.
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3. The act of grasping with the intellect; the contemplation
of things, without affirming, denying, or passing any
judgment; intellection; perception.
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Simple apprehension denotes no more than the soul's
naked intellection of an object. --Glanvill.
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4. Opinion; conception; sentiment; idea.
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Note: In this sense, the word often denotes a belief, founded
on sufficient evidence to give preponderation to the
mind, but insufficient to induce certainty; as, in our
apprehension, the facts prove the issue.
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To false, and to be thought false, is all one in
respect of men, who act not according to truth,
but apprehension. --South.
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5. The faculty by which ideas are conceived; understanding;
as, a man of dull apprehension.
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6. Anticipation, mostly of things unfavorable; distrust or
fear at the prospect of future evil.
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After the death of his nephew Caligula, Claudius was
in no small apprehension for his own life.
--Addison.
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Syn: {Apprehension}, {Alarm}.

Usage: Apprehension springs from a sense of danger when
somewhat remote, but approaching; alarm arises from
danger when announced as near at hand. Apprehension is
calmer and more permanent; alarm is more agitating and
transient.
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