grasp

Etymology

From Middle English graspen, grapsen, craspen (“to grope; feel around”), probably from Old English grǣpsan (“to touch, feel”), from Proto-Germanic *graipisōną. Cognate with German Low German grapsen (“to grab; grasp”), Saterland Frisian Grapse (“double handful”). Compare also Swedish krafsa (“to scatch; scabble”), Norwegian krafse (“to scramble”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɡɹɑːsp/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɡɹæsp/

• audio (US)

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Verb

grasp (third-person singular simple present grasps, present participle grasping, simple past and past participle grasped)

1. To grip; to take hold, particularly with the hand.
2. To understand.

   I have never been able to grasp the concept of infinity.

3. To take advantage of something, to seize, to jump at a chance.

Noun

grasp (plural grasps)

1. Grip.
   • 1914, Louis Joseph Vance, Nobody, chapter III:

     Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.

2. Understanding.
3. That which is accessible; that which is within one's reach or ability.

   The goal is within my grasp.

Anagrams

• ARPGs, sprag