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Added 9 October 2026

grasp

/ɡɹɑːsp/ verb

In Latin: teneō, prehendō, sūmō Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about grasp at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To grip; to take hold, particularly with the hand.
To understand.
I have never been able to grasp the concept of infinity.
To take advantage of something, to seize, to jump at a chance.

noun

Understanding.
That which is accessible; that which is within one's reach or ability.
The goal is within my grasp.

Origin

From Middle English graspen, grapsen, craspen (“to grope; feel around”), from Old English *grǣpsian, from Proto-West Germanic *graipisōn, from Proto-Germanic *graipisōną, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrebʰ- (“to take, seize, rake”), the same ultimate source as grab. Cognate with Saterland Frisian grapsje (“to grab, grasp”), German Low German grapsen (“to grab; grasp”), German grapsen and grapschen, Old English grāpian ("to touch, feel, grasp"; > Modern English grope). Compare also Swedish krafsa (“to scatch; scabble”), Norwegian krafse (“to scramble”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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