† agropev.
Obsolete.
1. transitive. To grip, grasp tightly. Cf. grope v. 3a.Only in Old English.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold [verb (transitive)] > hold firmly, grip, or grasp
clipOE
agropeOE
gripec1175
clencha1300
umbegrip?a1400
clitchc1400
stablec1440
grappe?c1450
coll1490
spenda1500
strain1590
clutch1602
screw1617
fast-hand1632
grasp1774
nevel1788
firm1859
bear-hug1919
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 202 Ne mæg min sawl beon gebroht mid blysse to heofonum, butan min lichama beo on þinum bendum genyrwod, and fram ðinum cwellerum on þinum copsum agrapod.
2. transitive. To seek or search out; to discover. Cf. grope v. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > find out, discover [verb (transitive)]
seeOE
fanda1000
finda1200
kenc1330
lenda1350
agropea1393
contrive1393
to find outc1405
outsearch?a1439
ripec1440
inventc1475
disclose?a1500
fish1531
agnize?1570
discover1585
to grope out1590
out-find1590
expiscate1598
vent1611
to learn out1629
to get to know1643
develop1653
ascertain1794
stag1796
root1866
to get a line on1903
establish1919
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 2814 The Cardinals..in the conclave..after that thei cowthe agrope Hath ech of hem seid his entente.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. l. 7339 (MED) For who so wole it wel agrope, To hem belongeth al Europe.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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v.OE