A word to describe knowing something completely
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We just can not think of a word to describe this situation where you understand something completely. There is nothing you do not know about it.
If anyone knows or has something close then that would be great.
single-word-requests
edited Aug 26 '12 at 22:11
RegDwigнt♦
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asked Jan 25 '11 at 10:00
Wolfy87Wolfy87
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We just can not think of a word to describe this situation where you understand something completely. There is nothing you do not know about it.
If anyone knows or has something close then that would be great.
single-word-requests
edited Aug 26 '12 at 22:11
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
asked Jan 25 '11 at 10:00
Wolfy87Wolfy87
116115
add a comment |
We just can not think of a word to describe this situation where you understand something completely. There is nothing you do not know about it.
If anyone knows or has something close then that would be great.
single-word-requests
edited Aug 26 '12 at 22:11
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
asked Jan 25 '11 at 10:00
Wolfy87Wolfy87
116115
We just can not think of a word to describe this situation where you understand something completely. There is nothing you do not know about it.
If anyone knows or has something close then that would be great.
single-word-requests
single-word-requests
edited Aug 26 '12 at 22:11
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
asked Jan 25 '11 at 10:00
Wolfy87Wolfy87
116115
edited Aug 26 '12 at 22:11
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
asked Jan 25 '11 at 10:00
Wolfy87Wolfy87
116115
edited Aug 26 '12 at 22:11
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
edited Aug 26 '12 at 22:11
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
edited Aug 26 '12 at 22:11
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
83.6k31282382
asked Jan 25 '11 at 10:00
Wolfy87Wolfy87
116115
asked Jan 25 '11 at 10:00
Wolfy87Wolfy87
116115
asked Jan 25 '11 at 10:00
Wolfy87Wolfy87
116115
116115
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11 Answers
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Comprehend and fathom are fine candidates, I'll just throw in attain enlightenment for good measure.
Edit: oh, and how about grok (Merriam-Webster, Wiktionary)?
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:12
RegDwigнt♦RegDwigнt
83.6k31282382
add a comment |
fathom, though more often used in the negative (he could hardly fathom...), means to “comprehend after much thought”. comprehend also has this same connotation.
Expressions such as puzzle out or get to the bottom of have the sense of understanding completely, but also mean it was figured out (i.e. that knowledge is recent). It may or may not be adequate for your use case.
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:08
F'xF'x
33.7k15125221
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According to Wiktionary, to comprehend is "to understand or grasp fully and thoroughly".
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:06
EldroßEldroß
3,32422140
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I would use omniscient.
The story is told by an omniscient narrator.
From the NOAD:
omniscient /ɑmˈnɪʃənt/
adjective
knowing everything
answered Jan 26 '11 at 13:23
kiamlalunokiamlaluno
43.9k57183296
2
A bit too strong, IMHO. Omniscient means "knowing everything" rather than "knowing something completely".
– Rafał Dowgird
Jan 26 '11 at 13:43
add a comment |
Informally, the term guru might apply here.
Struggling with his spreadsheet, Bob
knew where to turn: Alice was the Excel guru in the office.
answered Apr 12 '11 at 16:20
Michael EasterMichael Easter
2,6201417
add a comment |
Speaking as someone who has worked for an educational testing company, the students who demonstrated the best understanding of an essay topic were described as having a thorough understanding.
edited Aug 27 '12 at 8:39
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
answered Aug 27 '12 at 4:54
richardrichard
211
add a comment |
You could use Master, a term used in the trades.
In order of least skilled to most skilled:
Novice/Apprentice ---> Journeyman -------> Master
Mastery is also used for cognitive processes: mastered a language, mastered algebra.
A slang term is Whiz, that's likely short for Wizard.
answered Oct 5 '14 at 5:11
TheresaTheresa
2,221821
add a comment |
I feel obliged to add grok. From Wikipedia:
Grok means to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed—to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience.
When you claim to 'grok' some knowledge or technique, you are asserting that you have not merely learned it in a detached instrumental way but that it has become part of you, part of your identity.
Example: It took me forever to grok recursive functions.
answered Dec 15 '14 at 23:15
emraginsemragins
4721512
add a comment |
I'm not sure that the situation ever arises. The (world's) leading authority on a subject is perhaps a safer concept, but who decides who that is?
I couldn't say for sure.
answered Aug 26 '12 at 23:01
Edwin AshworthEdwin Ashworth
49.2k1091156
add a comment |
Perhaps this is not the word, but reading your question it seemed to me you were describing a moment or a situation more-so than you were a person,
in which case there is a beautiful German word which is aha-Erlibnes, meaning;
or one could say epiphany;
answered Nov 3 '14 at 17:57
kipkip
30037
add a comment |
Omniscient - Knowing everything
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/omniscient
answered yesterday
BeqaBeqa
621414
add a comment |
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11 Answers
11
active
oldest
votes
11 Answers
11
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Comprehend and fathom are fine candidates, I'll just throw in attain enlightenment for good measure.
Edit: oh, and how about grok (Merriam-Webster, Wiktionary)?
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:12
RegDwigнt♦RegDwigнt
83.6k31282382
add a comment |
Comprehend and fathom are fine candidates, I'll just throw in attain enlightenment for good measure.
Edit: oh, and how about grok (Merriam-Webster, Wiktionary)?
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:12
RegDwigнt♦RegDwigнt
83.6k31282382
add a comment |
Comprehend and fathom are fine candidates, I'll just throw in attain enlightenment for good measure.
Edit: oh, and how about grok (Merriam-Webster, Wiktionary)?
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:12
RegDwigнt♦RegDwigнt
83.6k31282382
Comprehend and fathom are fine candidates, I'll just throw in attain enlightenment for good measure.
Edit: oh, and how about grok (Merriam-Webster, Wiktionary)?
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:12
RegDwigнt♦RegDwigнt
83.6k31282382
edited Jan 25 '11 at 10:29
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:12
RegDwigнt♦RegDwigнt
83.6k31282382
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:12
RegDwigнt♦RegDwigнt
83.6k31282382
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:12
RegDwigнt♦RegDwigнt
83.6k31282382
83.6k31282382
add a comment |
add a comment |
fathom, though more often used in the negative (he could hardly fathom...), means to “comprehend after much thought”. comprehend also has this same connotation.
Expressions such as puzzle out or get to the bottom of have the sense of understanding completely, but also mean it was figured out (i.e. that knowledge is recent). It may or may not be adequate for your use case.
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:08
F'xF'x
33.7k15125221
add a comment |
fathom, though more often used in the negative (he could hardly fathom...), means to “comprehend after much thought”. comprehend also has this same connotation.
Expressions such as puzzle out or get to the bottom of have the sense of understanding completely, but also mean it was figured out (i.e. that knowledge is recent). It may or may not be adequate for your use case.
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:08
F'xF'x
33.7k15125221
add a comment |
fathom, though more often used in the negative (he could hardly fathom...), means to “comprehend after much thought”. comprehend also has this same connotation.
Expressions such as puzzle out or get to the bottom of have the sense of understanding completely, but also mean it was figured out (i.e. that knowledge is recent). It may or may not be adequate for your use case.
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:08
F'xF'x
33.7k15125221
fathom, though more often used in the negative (he could hardly fathom...), means to “comprehend after much thought”. comprehend also has this same connotation.
Expressions such as puzzle out or get to the bottom of have the sense of understanding completely, but also mean it was figured out (i.e. that knowledge is recent). It may or may not be adequate for your use case.
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:08
F'xF'x
33.7k15125221
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:08
F'xF'x
33.7k15125221
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:08
F'xF'x
33.7k15125221
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:08
F'xF'x
33.7k15125221
33.7k15125221
add a comment |
add a comment |
According to Wiktionary, to comprehend is "to understand or grasp fully and thoroughly".
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:06
EldroßEldroß
3,32422140
add a comment |
According to Wiktionary, to comprehend is "to understand or grasp fully and thoroughly".
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:06
EldroßEldroß
3,32422140
add a comment |
According to Wiktionary, to comprehend is "to understand or grasp fully and thoroughly".
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:06
EldroßEldroß
3,32422140
According to Wiktionary, to comprehend is "to understand or grasp fully and thoroughly".
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:06
EldroßEldroß
3,32422140
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:06
EldroßEldroß
3,32422140
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:06
EldroßEldroß
3,32422140
answered Jan 25 '11 at 10:06
EldroßEldroß
3,32422140
3,32422140
add a comment |
add a comment |
I would use omniscient.
The story is told by an omniscient narrator.
From the NOAD:
omniscient /ɑmˈnɪʃənt/
adjective
knowing everything
answered Jan 26 '11 at 13:23
kiamlalunokiamlaluno
43.9k57183296
2
A bit too strong, IMHO. Omniscient means "knowing everything" rather than "knowing something completely".
– Rafał Dowgird
Jan 26 '11 at 13:43
add a comment |
I would use omniscient.
The story is told by an omniscient narrator.
From the NOAD:
omniscient /ɑmˈnɪʃənt/
adjective
knowing everything
answered Jan 26 '11 at 13:23
kiamlalunokiamlaluno
43.9k57183296
2
A bit too strong, IMHO. Omniscient means "knowing everything" rather than "knowing something completely".
– Rafał Dowgird
Jan 26 '11 at 13:43
add a comment |
I would use omniscient.
The story is told by an omniscient narrator.
From the NOAD:
omniscient /ɑmˈnɪʃənt/
adjective
knowing everything
answered Jan 26 '11 at 13:23
kiamlalunokiamlaluno
43.9k57183296
I would use omniscient.
The story is told by an omniscient narrator.
From the NOAD:
omniscient /ɑmˈnɪʃənt/
adjective
knowing everything
answered Jan 26 '11 at 13:23
kiamlalunokiamlaluno
43.9k57183296
edited Feb 24 '11 at 1:01
answered Jan 26 '11 at 13:23
kiamlalunokiamlaluno
43.9k57183296
answered Jan 26 '11 at 13:23
kiamlalunokiamlaluno
43.9k57183296
answered Jan 26 '11 at 13:23
kiamlalunokiamlaluno
43.9k57183296
43.9k57183296
2
A bit too strong, IMHO. Omniscient means "knowing everything" rather than "knowing something completely".
– Rafał Dowgird
Jan 26 '11 at 13:43
add a comment |
2
A bit too strong, IMHO. Omniscient means "knowing everything" rather than "knowing something completely".
– Rafał Dowgird
Jan 26 '11 at 13:43
2
2
A bit too strong, IMHO. Omniscient means "knowing everything" rather than "knowing something completely".
– Rafał Dowgird
Jan 26 '11 at 13:43
A bit too strong, IMHO. Omniscient means "knowing everything" rather than "knowing something completely".
– Rafał Dowgird
Jan 26 '11 at 13:43
add a comment |
Informally, the term guru might apply here.
Struggling with his spreadsheet, Bob
knew where to turn: Alice was the Excel guru in the office.
answered Apr 12 '11 at 16:20
Michael EasterMichael Easter
2,6201417
add a comment |
Informally, the term guru might apply here.
Struggling with his spreadsheet, Bob
knew where to turn: Alice was the Excel guru in the office.
answered Apr 12 '11 at 16:20
Michael EasterMichael Easter
2,6201417
add a comment |
Informally, the term guru might apply here.
Struggling with his spreadsheet, Bob
knew where to turn: Alice was the Excel guru in the office.
answered Apr 12 '11 at 16:20
Michael EasterMichael Easter
2,6201417
Informally, the term guru might apply here.
Struggling with his spreadsheet, Bob
knew where to turn: Alice was the Excel guru in the office.
answered Apr 12 '11 at 16:20
Michael EasterMichael Easter
2,6201417
answered Apr 12 '11 at 16:20
Michael EasterMichael Easter
2,6201417
answered Apr 12 '11 at 16:20
Michael EasterMichael Easter
2,6201417
answered Apr 12 '11 at 16:20
Michael EasterMichael Easter
2,6201417
2,6201417
add a comment |
add a comment |
Speaking as someone who has worked for an educational testing company, the students who demonstrated the best understanding of an essay topic were described as having a thorough understanding.
edited Aug 27 '12 at 8:39
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
answered Aug 27 '12 at 4:54
richardrichard
211
add a comment |
Speaking as someone who has worked for an educational testing company, the students who demonstrated the best understanding of an essay topic were described as having a thorough understanding.
edited Aug 27 '12 at 8:39
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
answered Aug 27 '12 at 4:54
richardrichard
211
add a comment |
Speaking as someone who has worked for an educational testing company, the students who demonstrated the best understanding of an essay topic were described as having a thorough understanding.
edited Aug 27 '12 at 8:39
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
answered Aug 27 '12 at 4:54
richardrichard
211
Speaking as someone who has worked for an educational testing company, the students who demonstrated the best understanding of an essay topic were described as having a thorough understanding.
edited Aug 27 '12 at 8:39
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
answered Aug 27 '12 at 4:54
richardrichard
211
edited Aug 27 '12 at 8:39
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
edited Aug 27 '12 at 8:39
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
edited Aug 27 '12 at 8:39
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
83.6k31282382
answered Aug 27 '12 at 4:54
richardrichard
211
answered Aug 27 '12 at 4:54
richardrichard
211
answered Aug 27 '12 at 4:54
richardrichard
211
211
add a comment |
add a comment |
You could use Master, a term used in the trades.
In order of least skilled to most skilled:
Novice/Apprentice ---> Journeyman -------> Master
Mastery is also used for cognitive processes: mastered a language, mastered algebra.
A slang term is Whiz, that's likely short for Wizard.
answered Oct 5 '14 at 5:11
TheresaTheresa
2,221821
add a comment |
You could use Master, a term used in the trades.
In order of least skilled to most skilled:
Novice/Apprentice ---> Journeyman -------> Master
Mastery is also used for cognitive processes: mastered a language, mastered algebra.
A slang term is Whiz, that's likely short for Wizard.
answered Oct 5 '14 at 5:11
TheresaTheresa
2,221821
add a comment |
You could use Master, a term used in the trades.
In order of least skilled to most skilled:
Novice/Apprentice ---> Journeyman -------> Master
Mastery is also used for cognitive processes: mastered a language, mastered algebra.
A slang term is Whiz, that's likely short for Wizard.
answered Oct 5 '14 at 5:11
TheresaTheresa
2,221821
You could use Master, a term used in the trades.
In order of least skilled to most skilled:
Novice/Apprentice ---> Journeyman -------> Master
Mastery is also used for cognitive processes: mastered a language, mastered algebra.
A slang term is Whiz, that's likely short for Wizard.
answered Oct 5 '14 at 5:11
TheresaTheresa
2,221821
answered Oct 5 '14 at 5:11
TheresaTheresa
2,221821
answered Oct 5 '14 at 5:11
TheresaTheresa
2,221821
answered Oct 5 '14 at 5:11
TheresaTheresa
2,221821
2,221821
add a comment |
add a comment |
I feel obliged to add grok. From Wikipedia:
Grok means to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed—to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience.
When you claim to 'grok' some knowledge or technique, you are asserting that you have not merely learned it in a detached instrumental way but that it has become part of you, part of your identity.
Example: It took me forever to grok recursive functions.
answered Dec 15 '14 at 23:15
emraginsemragins
4721512
add a comment |
I feel obliged to add grok. From Wikipedia:
Grok means to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed—to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience.
When you claim to 'grok' some knowledge or technique, you are asserting that you have not merely learned it in a detached instrumental way but that it has become part of you, part of your identity.
Example: It took me forever to grok recursive functions.
answered Dec 15 '14 at 23:15
emraginsemragins
4721512
add a comment |
I feel obliged to add grok. From Wikipedia:
Grok means to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed—to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience.
When you claim to 'grok' some knowledge or technique, you are asserting that you have not merely learned it in a detached instrumental way but that it has become part of you, part of your identity.
Example: It took me forever to grok recursive functions.
answered Dec 15 '14 at 23:15
emraginsemragins
4721512
I feel obliged to add grok. From Wikipedia:
Grok means to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed—to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience.
When you claim to 'grok' some knowledge or technique, you are asserting that you have not merely learned it in a detached instrumental way but that it has become part of you, part of your identity.
Example: It took me forever to grok recursive functions.
answered Dec 15 '14 at 23:15
emraginsemragins
4721512
edited Dec 15 '14 at 23:21
answered Dec 15 '14 at 23:15
emraginsemragins
4721512
answered Dec 15 '14 at 23:15
emraginsemragins
4721512
answered Dec 15 '14 at 23:15
emraginsemragins
4721512
4721512
add a comment |
add a comment |
I'm not sure that the situation ever arises. The (world's) leading authority on a subject is perhaps a safer concept, but who decides who that is?
I couldn't say for sure.
answered Aug 26 '12 at 23:01
Edwin AshworthEdwin Ashworth
49.2k1091156
add a comment |
I'm not sure that the situation ever arises. The (world's) leading authority on a subject is perhaps a safer concept, but who decides who that is?
I couldn't say for sure.
answered Aug 26 '12 at 23:01
Edwin AshworthEdwin Ashworth
49.2k1091156
add a comment |
I'm not sure that the situation ever arises. The (world's) leading authority on a subject is perhaps a safer concept, but who decides who that is?
I couldn't say for sure.
answered Aug 26 '12 at 23:01
Edwin AshworthEdwin Ashworth
49.2k1091156
I'm not sure that the situation ever arises. The (world's) leading authority on a subject is perhaps a safer concept, but who decides who that is?
I couldn't say for sure.
answered Aug 26 '12 at 23:01
Edwin AshworthEdwin Ashworth
49.2k1091156
answered Aug 26 '12 at 23:01
Edwin AshworthEdwin Ashworth
49.2k1091156
answered Aug 26 '12 at 23:01
Edwin AshworthEdwin Ashworth
49.2k1091156
answered Aug 26 '12 at 23:01
Edwin AshworthEdwin Ashworth
49.2k1091156
49.2k1091156
add a comment |
add a comment |
Perhaps this is not the word, but reading your question it seemed to me you were describing a moment or a situation more-so than you were a person,
in which case there is a beautiful German word which is aha-Erlibnes, meaning;
or one could say epiphany;
answered Nov 3 '14 at 17:57
kipkip
30037
add a comment |
Perhaps this is not the word, but reading your question it seemed to me you were describing a moment or a situation more-so than you were a person,
in which case there is a beautiful German word which is aha-Erlibnes, meaning;
or one could say epiphany;
answered Nov 3 '14 at 17:57
kipkip
30037
add a comment |
Perhaps this is not the word, but reading your question it seemed to me you were describing a moment or a situation more-so than you were a person,
in which case there is a beautiful German word which is aha-Erlibnes, meaning;
or one could say epiphany;
answered Nov 3 '14 at 17:57
kipkip
30037
Perhaps this is not the word, but reading your question it seemed to me you were describing a moment or a situation more-so than you were a person,
in which case there is a beautiful German word which is aha-Erlibnes, meaning;
or one could say epiphany;
answered Nov 3 '14 at 17:57
kipkip
30037
answered Nov 3 '14 at 17:57
kipkip
30037
answered Nov 3 '14 at 17:57
kipkip
30037
answered Nov 3 '14 at 17:57
kipkip
30037
30037
add a comment |
add a comment |
Omniscient - Knowing everything
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/omniscient
answered yesterday
BeqaBeqa
621414
add a comment |
Omniscient - Knowing everything
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/omniscient
answered yesterday
BeqaBeqa
621414
add a comment |
Omniscient - Knowing everything
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/omniscient
answered yesterday
BeqaBeqa
621414
Omniscient - Knowing everything
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/omniscient
answered yesterday
BeqaBeqa
621414
answered yesterday
BeqaBeqa
621414
answered yesterday
BeqaBeqa
621414
answered yesterday
BeqaBeqa
621414
621414
add a comment |
add a comment |
protected by tchrist♦ Mar 1 '15 at 19:28
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
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