apprehension
ap·pre·hen·sion
/ˌæprıˈhɛnʃən/ noun , pl -sions
1 : fear that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen : a feeling of being worried about the future
[ noncount ] The thought of moving to a new city fills me with apprehension.
There is growing apprehension [=fear] that profits will be lower than expected.
[ count ] He has apprehensions [=misgivings] about the surgery.
2 formal : the act of apprehending someone or something: such as
2 a : the act of arresting someone for a crime
[ noncount ] the sheriff's apprehension of the criminal = the criminal's apprehension by the sheriff
[ count ] an increased number of apprehensions
2 b [ noncount ] somewhat old-fashioned : the act of noticing and understanding something
the apprehension [=perception] of danger
