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.
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, 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.
