grasp, graasp, graspe, graspen

t. & i. [From grapsen, an extension of grapen = to grope; cf. Ger. grapsen = to snatch; Ital. grasp are = to grasp.] A. Intransitive : I. Lit .: To seize and hold fast in the hands or arms; to clutch. "[He] fiercer grasped his gun." Scott: Don Roderick , vii. (Conc.) II. Figuratively : 1. To seize or try to win or gain; to take po e ion of. "Kings, by grasping more than they could hold, First made their subjects, by oppre ion, bold." Denham: Cooper's Hill , 343. 2. To lay hold of mentally; to become thoroughly acquainted or conversant with; to comprehend thoroughly. "The memory will grasp and retain all that is sufficient for the purposes of valuable improvement."- Knox : Liberal Education , § 11. *3. To have in one's power; to rule. "Great king of seas, that graspest the ocean, heare." P. Fletcher, Ecl. 2. B. Intransitive: 1. To catch or seize. 2. To make grasps; to clutch, to struggle. "See, his face is black, and full of blood; His hands abroad displayed, as one that graspt And tugged for life." Shakesp.: Henry VI., Pt . II ., iii. 2. IMG:content-0710.png:[blocks in formation] 1. The grip or seizure of the hand. 2. The reach of the hand. "They looked upon it as their own, and had it even within their grasp ."-Clarendon. 3. The power of seizing or grasping: hence, po e ion, power, hold. "I would not be the villain that thou think est, For the whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp." Shakesp.: Macbeth , iv. 3. 4. The power of the intellect to grasp or comprehend things; the reach or range of the intellect. grasp'-a-ble, a. [Eng. grasp , and able .] That may or can be grasped. "His every sense had grown Ethereal for pleasure; 'bove his head Flew a delight half graspable ." Keats: Endymion, ii. 678. grasper, s. [Eng.grasp; -er.] 1. One who grasps or seizes. *2. A grapple or grappling-hook. grasp-ing, pr. par., a. & 8. [GRASP, v.] A. As pr. par.: (See the verb.) B. As adjective: 1. Seizing, laying hold on. 2. Avaricious, greedy, covetous, miserly, exacting. "My wealth, on which a kinsman nigh Already casts a grasping eye." Scott: Rokeby, iv. 28. C. As subst.: The act of seizing or laying fast hold on. grasp'-Ing-ly, adv. [Eng. grasping: -ly.] In a grasping manner; avariciously, greedily, covetously.