grasp – English verb conjugation

Nominal Forms

Infinitive: to grasp the nettle
Participle: grasped the nettle
Gerund: grasping the nettle

Cognates

-

Indicative

Subjunctive

Conditional

Imperative

you	grasp the nettle
we	Let's grasp the nettle
you	grasp the nettle

Indicative

Conditional

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

to grasp with the hands

take

hold tightly

cling

grasp or grip

hold

grip or grasp tightly

clutch

seize; grip; clutch

fang

take hold of

grip

to grasp

fondle

grasp tightly

clasp

grip or hold tightly

clench

hold firmly

clinch

hold tight

belock

grasp|snatch

glaum

grasp firmly

begrasp

to actively and intentionally gain possession or control

appropriate, bag, catch, expropriate, grab, grip, help oneself, hook, impropriate, make free with, nab, nim, pocket, sack, seize, take

to gain possession or control by force or stratagem

begripe, capture, fang, gripe, lay hold of, seize, take hold

to hold firmly, particularly with the hand

begrasp, begrip, belock, clasp, clench, clinch, cling, clutch, enclasp, fang, fondle, glaum, grab, grabble, grip, hang on, hold, hold on, hold tight, nim, seize, stranglehold, take

clutch

grab, grip, hold, catch, clasp, seize

understand

comprehend

Antonyms

to delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness

act, go it blind, grasp the nettle, jump at the chance, jump on, jump the gun, shoot first and ask questions later, shoot from the hip, wait

to hold firmly, particularly with the hand

let go, release

understand

misunderstand, mistake, misapprehend, misinterpret

Additional Information

Phrasal Verbs

Etymology

1. 1382, possibly metathesis of O.E. *græpsan "to touch, feel," from P.Gmc. *graipison (cf. E.Fris. grapsen "to grasp"), from root *graip (see grope). Originally "to reach for, feel around;" sense of "seize" first recorded mid-16c.
2. 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.
3. 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”). See: Frisian, Saterlandic 'grapsje', German, old spelling 'grapsen', English 'grope', Swedish 'krafsa'.

Sample Sentences