Hypertext Webster Gateway: "grasp"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Grasp \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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Grasp \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,
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
grasp
n 1: understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or
magnitude of something; "he has a good grasp of
accounting practices" [syn: {appreciation}, {hold}]
2: the limit of capability; "within the compass of education"
[syn: {compass}, {range}, {reach}]
3: a firm controlling influence; "he was in the grip of a
powerful emotion" or "a terrible power had her its grasp"
[syn: {grip}]
4: the act of grasping; "he released his clasp on my arm"; "he
has a strong grip for an old man"; "she kept a firm hold
on the railing" [syn: {clasp}, {clench}, {clutch}, {clutches},
{grip}, {hold}]
v 1: hold firmly [syn: {grip}, {hold on}]
2: get the meaning of something; "Do you comprehend the meaning
of this letter?" [syn: {get the picture}, {comprehend}, {savvy},
{dig}, {compass}, {apprehend}]
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