adj. & n.
adj. 1 complete; including all or nearly all elements, aspects, etc. (a comprehensive grasp of the subject). 2 of or relating to understanding (the comprehensive faculty). 3 (of motor-vehicle insurance) providing complete protection.
n. (in full comprehensive school) Brit. a secondary school catering for children of all abilities from a given area. comprehensively adv. comprehensiveness n.
[ F compréhensif -ive or LL comprehensivus (as COMPREHENSIBLE) ]