Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Grasp
Grasp
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Grasper
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Qraspine
.] 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. Shakespeare
2.
To lay hold of with the mind; to become thoroughly acquainted or conversant with; to comprehend.
Grasp
,Verb.
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. Shakespeare
To grasp at
, to catch at; to try to seize; as, Alexander grasped at universal empire,
Grasp
,Noun.
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
. Shakespeare
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Grasp
GR`ASP
,Verb.
T.
1.
To catch; to seize; to lay hold of; to take possession of. Kings often grasp more than they can hold.GR`ASP
,Verb.
I.
1.
To struggle; to strive. [Not in use.]2.
To encroach.To grasp at, to catch at; to try to seize.
Alexander grasped at universal empire.
GR`ASP
,Noun.
1.
Possession; hold.2.
Reach of the arms; and figuratively, the power of seizing. Bonaparte seemed to think he had the Russian empire within his grasp.