пости́чь

uncommon #9634

verbperfective imperfective is постига́ть

1.
to comprehend, to grasp, to understand, to fathom
Он мечта́л пости́чь тайны приро́ды.
He dreamed of comprehending the secrets of nature.
Perfective; imperfective постигать. Somewhat bookish, often of deep or hidden truths.
2.
to befall, to strike, to overtake
Семью пости́гло большо́е горе.
A great sorrow befell the family.
Of misfortune or disaster; the person affected stands in the accusative.

Examples

Он постиг все премудрости древней науки.
He mastered all the subtleties of the ancient science.
Нельзя постичь, не воспринимая.
It is not possible to conceive without perceiving.
Он едва ли мог постичь то, что она подразумева́ла.
He could hardly comprehend what she was implying.
Том хо́чет постичь смысл жи́зни.
Tom wants to comprehend the meaning of life.
Бесконе́чность нельзя по-настоящему постичь челове́ческим ра́зумом.
Infinity can't really be understood by the human mind.

Imperative
ты	пости́гни
вы	пости́гните

Active present	-
Active past	пости́гнувший	having comprehended, having grasped, having understood, having achieved
Passive present	-
Passive past	пости́гнутый	understood, comprehended, grasped, attained
Gerund present	-
Gerund past	пости́гнув постигнувши постигши	while doing (past)