grapple
To seize something and hold it firmlyTo seize something and hold it firmly.
» We seem to keep grappling with the same old problem.
CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
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. — Yorwba
Automakers are grappling with semiconductor shortages.
deAutohersteller haben mit Halbleiterengpässen zu kämpfen. — Yorwba
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
7 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