Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GRASP, v.i.

1. To catch or seize; to gripe. Dryden.
2. To struggle; to strive. [Not in use.]
3. To encroach. Dryden. To grasp at, to catch at; to try to seize. Alexander grasped at universal empire.

GRASP, v.t. [It. graspare.]

1. To seize and hold by clasping or embracing with the fingers or arms. We say, to grasp with the hand, or with the arms.
2. To catch; to seize; to lay hold of; to take possession of. Kings often grasp more than they can hold.

GRASP'A-BLE, a.

That can be grasped.

GRASP'ED, pp.

Seized with the hands or arms; embraced; held; possessed.

GRASP'ER, n.

One who grasps or seizes; one who catches at; one who holds.

GRASP'ING, ppr.

Seizing; embracing; catching; holding.

GRASP'ING-LY, adv.

In an eager, grasping manner.

GRASS, n. [Sax. græs, gærs, or græd; Goth. gras; G. and D. gras; Sw. gräs; Dan. græs. In G. rasen is turf, sod, and verrasen, to overgrow with grass; hence, g may be a prefix. Grass may be allied to Gr. αγρωστις, κραστις, γραστις.]

1. In common usage, herbage; the plants which constitute the food of cattle and other beasts.
2. In botany, a plant having simple leaves, a stem generally jointed and tubular, a husky calyx, called glume, and the seed single. This definition includes wheat, rye, oats, barley, &c. and excludes clover and some other plants which are commonly called by the name of grass. The grasses form a numerous family of plants. Encyc. Grass of Parnassus, a plant, the Parnassia.

GRASS, v.i.

To breed grass; to be covered with grass. Tusser.

GRASS, v.t.

To cover with grass or with turf.

GRAS-SA'TION, n. [L. grassatio.]

A wandering about. [Little used.]

GRASS'-BLADE, n.

A blade of grass.

GRASS'GREEN, a.

1. Green with grass. Shenstone.
2. Dark green, like the color of grass.

GRASS'-GROWN, a.

Overgrown with grass. Thomson.

GRASS'HOP-PER, n. [grass and hop.]

An animal that lives among grass, a species of Gryllus.

GRASS'I-NESS, n. [from grassy.]

The state of abounding with grass; a grassy state.

GRASS'LESS, a.

Destitute of grass.

GRASS'PLOT, n.

A plat or level spot covered with grass.

GRASS'POL-Y, n.

A plant, a species of Lythrum or willow-wort.

GRASS'VETCH, n.

A plant of the genus Lathyrus.

GRASS'WRACK, n.

A plant, the Zostera.

GRASS'Y, a.

1. Covered with grass; abounding with grass. Spenser.
2. Resembling grass; green.

GRATE, a. [L. gratus.]

Agreeable. [Not in use.]

GRATE, n. [It. grata, L. crates, a grate, a hurdle. Qu. its alliance to the verb, to grate.]

1. A work or frame, composed of parallel or cross bars, with interstices; a kind of lattice-work, such as is used in the windows of prisons and cloisters.
2. An instrument or frame of iron bars for holding coals, used as fuel, in houses, stores, shops, &c.

GRATE, v.i.

1. To rub hard, so as to offend; to offend by oppression or importunity. This grated harder upon the hearts of men. South.
2. To make a harsh sound by the friction of rough bodies. Hooker.