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Is there a verb that means you understand something so well that this something becomes part of you, your nature, your essence?

The closest I've found is grok but I don't like the word for two reasons:

  1. The meaning of the word I'm looking for and the meaning of grok are similar, but still different.
  2. I don't like the etymology of the word (which is a dumb reason for not choosing to use a particular word, but that's just how I am).

Any help is appreciated.

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  • An example, can you provide?
    – NVZ
    Jul 18, 2016 at 20:26
  • How about this? idioms.thefreedictionary.com/at+one+with "I am completely at one with Michael on this decision."
    – NVZ
    Jul 18, 2016 at 20:27
  • @NVZ, "be at one" is a verb phrase, not a verb. Jul 18, 2016 at 21:13
  • 2
    Please write an example sentence where the word would be used. The following is the strict guideline of this community. Questions on choosing an ideal word or phrase must include information on how it will be used in order to be answered. For help writing a good word or phrase request, see: About single word requests.
    – user140086
    Jul 19, 2016 at 7:12

4 Answers 4

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The Oxford dictionary (American English) defines internalize as

  • Make (attitudes or behavior) part of one’s nature by learning or unconscious assimilation.
  • Acquire knowledge of (the rules of a language).

See also What does it mean to “absorb rather than learn”? on ELL for a (somewhat chaotic) discussion of absorb.

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To embody: to include as part of something: Kennett embodied in one man an unusual range of science, music, and religion.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/embody

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Colloquially, people sometimes say "owned," as in "I will give you an A on the exam if I feel that you've really owned the material."

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  • Too informal, I'm afraid. But anyway, thanks for letting me in on that colloquialism - I've never heard of it before. Jul 20, 2016 at 20:33
  • There's some possibility that it's a West Coast college professor thing, and this is where I've heard it the most! (Also from West Coast psychologists.)
    – N. Post
    Jul 21, 2016 at 0:15
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Intuitive

The more I practice yoga, the more intuitive I find its philosophy.

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  • Welcome to ELU. Unfortunately this isn't a verb.
    – JJJ
    Jun 25, 2018 at 7:31
  • You may be able to rework this answer to use the slightly controversial verb "intuit". See thefreedictionary.com/intuit Usage Note: Intuit is a good example of a verb that was once considered objectionable but has since become so familiar as to be unremarkable.
    – k1eran
    Jun 25, 2018 at 9:46
  • Good point, thank you. How would you use "intuit" though? Can you actually intuit something?
    – Dorian
    Jun 25, 2018 at 11:39

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