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.
Grasp , v. i. 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 (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grasper (?); p. pr. &
vb. n. Qraspine.]
[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.
Hear it pronounced