think the various nature of these words has to do with the versatility of the root form that means to seize, prehendere

Indeed Alex, 'prehendere' seems to be at the root of this confusion. The other such word that immediately springs to mind is 'Reprehend'. Both this word and its adjective, reprehensible, do not seem to have any logical connection at all to their etymological derivation. Oh dear, seems like another thread is intent on interweaving with this.
If there is someone who is a Latin buff on this board, maybe he/she can help with a comprehensive understanding of the reach of the root, 'Prehendere'.