apprise (v.)

"to notify, give notice," 1690s, from French appris, past participle of apprendre "to inform, teach" (Old French aprendre, 12c.), literally "to lay hold of (in the mind)," from Latin apprehendere "take hold of, grasp" mentally or physically, from ad "to" (see ad-) + prehendere "to seize" (from prae- "before," see pre-, + -hendere, from PIE root *ghend- "to seize, take"). Related: Apprised; apprising.