grapple
To seize something and hold it firmlyTo seize something and hold it firmly.
» We seem to keep grappling with the same old problem.
Meaning
7 senses(transitive)To seize something and hold it firmly.
packen, ergreifen
схва́тыватьsxvátyvatʹ, схвати́тьsxvatítʹ, ухва́тыватьuxvátyvatʹ
to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match
(intransitive)To wrestle or tussle.
ringen, kämpfen, raufen
боро́тьсяborótʹsja, схвати́тьсяsxvatítʹsja, сцепи́тьсяscepítʹsja
(figuratively)To ponder and intensely evaluate a problem; to struggle to deal with.
to grapple with one's conscience
auseinandersetzen, herumschlagen, ringen
(transitive)To fasten, as with a grapple; (by extension) to fix; to join indissolubly.
verankern, einhaken
(intransitive, transitive)To climb (whether by means of a grapple and rope, or by hand, etc).
kraxeln, krabbeln
(intransitive)To use a grapple (for example to attempt to find, hook, and raise a net or cable).
fischen, angeln
(intransitive, transitive)To hook and raise with a grapple.
an den Haken nehmen
Examples
21 sentencesWe seem to keep grappling with the same old problem.
Batman has the best grappling hook.
deBatman hat den besten Enterhaken.
Automakers are grappling with semiconductor shortages.
deAutohersteller haben mit Halbleiterengpässen zu kämpfen.
Tom can use a grappling hook.
He grapples with an eating disorder.
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 7
Origin
From Middle English *grapplen (“to seize, lay hold of”), from Old English *græpplian (“toFrom Middle English *grapplen (“to seize, lay hold of”), from Old English *græpplian (“to seize”) (compare Old English ġegræppian (“to seize”)), from Proto-Germanic *graipilōną, *grabbalōną (“to seize”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrebʰ- (“to take, seize, rake”), equivalent to grab + -le.
From Middle English *grapple, *graple, from Old French grappil (“a ship's grapple”) (compare Old French grappin (“hook”)), from Old French grape, grappe, crape (“hook”), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *krappō (“hook”), from Proto-Indo-European *grep- (“hook”), *gremb- (“crooked, uneven”), from Proto-Indo-European *ger- (“to turn, bend, twist”). See further at grape. Influenced in some senses by grapple (“seize”, verb) (see above).
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Forms
grapples, grappling, grappled, grappledSynonyms
8 synonymsWord family
9 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle