Grapple

v. t.	1.	To seize; to lay fast hold of; to attack at close quarters: as, to grapple an antagonist. [imp. & p. p. Grappled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Grappling .]
	2.	To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join indissolubly. The gallies were grappled to the Centurion. - Hakluyt. Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel. - Shak.
v. i.	1.	To use a grapple; to contend in close fight; to attach one's self as if by a grapple, as in wrestling; to close; to seize one another. To grapple with to enter into contest with, resolutely and courageously. And in my standard bear the arms of York, To grapple with the house of Lancaster. - Shak.
n.	1.	A seizing or seizure; close hug in contest; the wrestler's hold.
	2.	(Naut.) An instrument, usually with hinged claws, for seizing and holding fast to an object; a grab. The iron hooks and grapples keen. - Spenser. Grapple plant (Bot.) a South African herb (Herpagophytum leptocarpum) having the woody fruits armed with long hooked or barbed thorns by which they adhere to cattle, causing intense annoyance. Grapple shot (Life-saving Service) a projectile, to which are attached hinged claws to catch in a ship's rigging or to hold in the ground; - called also anchor shot.

Noun	1.	grapple - a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding; often thrown with a rope Synonyms: grapnel, grappling hook, grappling iron, grappler
	2.	grapple - a dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam Synonyms: clamshell
	3.	grapple - the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat; "they had a fierce wrestle"; "we watched his grappling and wrestling with the bully" Synonyms: grappling, hand-to-hand struggle, wrestle, wrestling
Verb	1.	grapple - come to terms or deal successfully with; "We got by on just a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day" Synonyms: cope, get by, make do, manage, deal, make out, contend
	2.	grapple - to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match; "the two men grappled with each other for several minutes" Synonyms: grip

GRAPPLE - GRAPh Processing LanguagE. 1968. ["A Directed Graph Representation for Computer Simulation of Belief Systems", L.G. Tesler et al, Math Biosciences 2:19-40 (1968)].

abduct, adhere to, affix, anchor, annex, attach, battle, bear hug, belay, bite, box, brawl, broil, carry off, catch, cement, cinch, clamp, clash, cleave to, clench, clinch, cling, clinging, clip, close, collide, combat, come to blows, contend, contend with, contest, cope with, cramp, cut and thrust, deal with, death grip, duel, embrace, engraft, exchange blows, face, fasten, fence, feud, fight a duel, firm hold, fix, foothold, footing, freeze to, give and take, give satisfaction, grab, graft, grapple with, gripe, hang on, hang on to, hold, hold fast, hold on, hold on to, hold tight, hug, iron grip, jostle, joust, keep hold of, kidnap, knit, make fast, mix it up, moor, nab, nail, never let go, nip, purchase, put to, quarrel, rassle, riot, run a tilt, scramble, screw up, scuffle, secure, seizure, set, set to, shanghai, skirmish, snatch, spar, stick to, strive, struggle, struggle with, tackle, take, take on, tenure, throttle, thrust and parry, tight grip, tighten, tilt, toehold, tourney, trice up, trim, tussle, wage war, war, wrestle

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