grasper (grasper)

1. One who or that which grasps or seizes; one who catches or holds.-2. pl. The raptorial orthopterous mantids or rear-horses. See Raptor i a. grasping (grås'ping), p. a. Eager to gain po e ion of something; covetous; rapacious; avaricious; exacting; miserly. IMG:content-2597.jpg:[blocks in formation] Stelling is moderate in his terms - he's not a grasping George Eliot , Mill on the Flo , i. 3. graspingly (gras'ping-li), adv . In a grasping manner; covetously; rapaciously. The Pope had proved himself to be graspingly unwise. Lowe, Bismarck, II. 357. graspingne (grås'ping-nes), n. The state or character of being grasping; covetousne ; rapacity. I To take all that good-nature, or indulgence, or good opinion confers shews a want of moderation, and a grasping ne that is unworthy of that indulgence. Richardson, Clari a Harlowe, I. 137. grasplet, n. and v. [Also graspel ; grasp + -le , conformed to grapple .] Same as grapple . For to the dis to urb a unce of the shippes that approched the walles, they devysed longe rafters, to the which they fastened grasples of iron and great hookes lyke sithes. J. Brende, tr. of Quintus Curtius, fol. 60. Wher of ye one strake full with her Spurne [rostro] with whom the cynquereme graspeled and ye other which was loose and at libertie fell vpon her contrary side. J. Brende, tr. of Quintus Curtius, fol. 61. IMG:content-2598.jpg:[blocks in formation] Isa. xl. 6. When Phœbe doth behold Her silver visage in the wat'ry gla , Decking with liquid pearl the bladed gra . Shak., M. N. D., i. 1. Specifically-2. In bot., any plant of the order Graminea (which see).-3. pl. Stalks or sprays of gra : as, the fireplace was filled with dried gra es.-4. [Short for sparrow - gra , a corruption of asparagus.] Asparagus. A hundred of gra , from the Corporation of Garratt, will, in a short time, at the London market, be held at least as an equivalent to a Batter sea bundle. Foote , Mayor of Garratt, ii. 2. Will you take any other vegetables? Gra ? Peas? Dickens , Bleak House, xx. 5. In mining, the surface of the ground at the mine. [Cornwall, Eng.]-6. In turf parlance, the time of new verdure; spring or summer: as, the colt will be three this gra .-Ant-hill gra . See ant - hill. - At gra . (a) Same as to gra (a) (b) See to take heart of grace, under grace. - Bahama Same as cockspur-gra . - Bengal gra , the Setaria Itali gra . Same as Bermuda gra .- Barn-yard gra . ca, probably native in eastern Asia, now very extensively cultivated as a forage-plant. Also known as Hungarian gra , German millet, etc. - Bermuda gra , a low, creeping, perennial gra , Cynodon Dactyl on, found in most warm and tropical countries, where, from its endurance of drought, it is a common pasture-gra . It rarely bears seed, but is easily propagated by cuttings of the rootstocks, and when once established its eradication is difficult. Also Bahama gra .-Between hay and gra . See hay1.-Black-seed gra , the Sporobolus Indicus: so called from the frequency with which its spikelets are attacked by smut. - Blue-eyed gra . See blue-eyed. Blue-gra region, the rich limestone lands of Ken tucky and Tenne ee, yielding blue gra , and noted for the fine physical development of man and beast bred there. Either no other land ever lent itself so easily to civilization as the blue-gra region, or it was exceptionally fortunate in its inhabitants. C. D. Warner, Harper's Mag., LXXVIII. 256. Bottle-brush gra . See bottle - brush . - Capon's-tail gra . See capon's -tail. - Cockscomb-gra . See cocks ed comb . gra , - Cocksfoot-gra . a species of Dactyloctenium , See cocksfoot . in - which Comb-fring the cuspidate flowers are arranged in unilateral spikes. - Dog's tail gra . (a) Species of Cynosurus , especially C. crista tus , from its spike being fringed on one side only. (6) The Eleusine Indica . See Eleusine . - Dog's-tooth gra . (a) The dog-gra , Agropyrum caninum. (6) Bermuda gra , Cynodon Dactyl on . (c) In Queensland, the Chlo ris divaricata.- Esparto-gra . See esparto . - Fivefinger-gra . Same as fivefinger , 1.-Five-leafed gra , in her ., same as cinquefoil, 3.- Four-leafed gra , the herb truelove, Paris quadrifolia .-Fowl-gra . See fowl 1.-Foxtail-gra . See foxtail , 2.-Free gra , free grazing. [Western U. S.] In our northern country we have free gra : that is, the stockmen rarely own more than small portions of the ground, as a bird shot on the wing, or a fish caught from the water. Who amongst you, dear readers, can appreciate the intense delight of gra ing your first big fish after a nine months' fast? T. Hughes , Tom Brown at Oxford, xxxvi. At the close of the twenty-fifth round the doctor had killed twenty out of twenty-five, while his opponent had gra ed seventeen out of the same number. Daily Telegraph, Nov. 26, 1881. 3. To lose in the gra . One arrow must be shot after another, though both be grast, and never found again. Bp. Hacket, Abp. Williams, ii. 20. 4. To feed with growing gra ; pasture. The feeding or gra ing of beefs and muttons. Privy Council (Arber's Eng. Garner, I. 301). II.t in trans. To breed gra ; be covered with gra . Tu er.