comprensiva

Comprensiva is the feminine singular form of an adjective used in several Romance languages, notably Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian. It derives from the Latin comprehendere (to seize, grasp) and conveys two related meanings: someone who is understanding or empathetic, and something that is comprehensive or wide in scope. The exact sense depends on context and the language.

In Portuguese, comprensiva commonly describes a person who is empathetic or tolerant, as in uma pessoa compreensiva (an understanding person). It can also appear in more formal phrases to indicate breadth or depth, such as in a análise compreensiva or estudo compreensivo, though in everyday language terms like abrangente or completo are also used.

In Spanish, comprensiva is the feminine form of comprensivo and is primarily used to describe a person who is understanding (una persona comprensiva). The word can also appear in contexts aiming to express thoroughness or inclusiveness, but phrases like guía completa or estudio detallado are more typical for the “comprehensive” sense.

In Italian, comprensiva is the feminine of comprensivo and is employed similarly: una guida comprensiva (a comprehensive guide) or un’analisi comprensiva (a thorough analysis). The adjective is common in both everyday speech and formal writing when stressing inclusiveness or depth of coverage.

Etymologically, comprensiva comes from com- (together) and prehendere (to seize, grasp), via Latin comprehendere. Related forms include comprensivo (masculine), comprendo in verbs like comprender/comprendere in other languages, and synonyms such as abrangente or completo depending on the language and nuance.