Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GRIPE, v.t. [Sax. gripan; Goth. greipan; D. grypen; G. greifen; Sw. gripa; Dan. griber; Fr. gripper; Arm. scraba, scrapein; W. grab, a cluster, a grape; grabin, a clasping; grabiniaw, to grapple, to scramble. Qu. Sans. grepipan. These words may be allied in origin to L. rapio.]

1. To seize; to grasp; to catch with the hand, and to clasp closely with the fingers.
2. To hold fast; to hold with the fingers closely pressed.
3. To seize and hold fast in the arms; to embrace closely.
4. To close the fingers; to clutch. Pope.
5. To pinch; to press; to compress.
6. To give pain to the bowels, as if by pressure or contraction.
7. To pinch; to straiten; to distress; as, griping poverty.