Category:Grasp

Grasp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grasper; p. pr. & vb. n. Qraspine.] Etym: [OE. graspen; prob. akin to LG. grupsen, or to E. grope. Cf. Grab, Grope.]

1. To seize and hold by clasping or embracing with the fingers or arms; to catch to take possession of. Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff. Shak.

2. To lay hold of with the mind; to become thoroughly acquainted or conversant with; to comprehend.

grasp Grasp, v. i.

Defn: To effect a grasp; to make the motion of grasping; to clutch; to struggle; to strive. As one that grasped And tugged for life and was by strength subdued. Shak. To grasp at, to catch at; to try to seize; as, Alexander grasped at universal empire,

grasp Grasp, n.

1. A gripe or seizure of the hand; a seizure by embrace, or infolding in the arms. "The grasps of love." Shak.

2. Reach of the arms; hence, the power of seizing and holding; as, it was beyond his grasp.

3. Forcible possession; hold. The whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp. Shak.

4. Wide-reaching power of intellect to comprehend subjects and hold them under survey. The foremost minds of the next. . . era were not, in power of grasp, equal to their predecessors. Z. Taylor.

5. The handle of a sword or of an oar.