Grasp
/ɡræsp/noun
To seize and hold firmly, or to understand something clearly.
Did you know?Grasp is probably related to Middle Dutch and Middle Low German words meaning “to scratch” or “to scrape,” which gives it a surprisingly rough, physical origin rather than a mystical one.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*graspōną
“to seize, grip, or clutch”
Middle Dutch
MDu
graspen
“to seize or grip”
Middle Low German
MLG
graspen
“to seize, clutch”
Middle English
ME
graspen
“to seize firmly, catch hold of”
Modern English
English
grasp
“to seize and hold firmly; to understand clearly”