grip
To take hold (of), particularly with the hand.
Example
“That suitcase is heavy, so grip the handle firmly.”
Other meanings
To figuratively take hold of or grasp.
“We need to grip this problem, not shut our eyes and hope it goes away.”
Of an emotion or situation: to have a strong effect upon.
“As the water level began to rise, I was gripped by panic.”
Word history
From Old English "grippan".
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “grip” on Wiktionary, by its contributors, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.