Comprehensive
Pronunciation : Com`pre*hen"sive
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [Cf. F. compr?hensif.]
Definition : 1. Including much; comprising many things; having a wide scope or a full view. A very comprehensive definition. Bentley. Large and comprehensive idea. Channing.
2. Having the power to comprehend or understand many things. "His comprehensive head." Pope.
3. (Zo?l.)
Defn: Possessing peculiarities that are characteristic of several diverse groups.
Note: The term is applied chiefly to early fossil groups which have a combination of structures that appear in more fully developed or specialized forms in later groups. Synthetic, as used by Agssiz, is nearly synonymous.
Syn. -- Extensive; wide; large; full; compendious.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913