E 0396          GRIP

The word "grip" is of Germanic origin

H 0015  א ג ר ו ף

Concept of root : grip

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

א ג ר ו ף

egroph

fist

Related English words

grip

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

א ג ר ו ף

egroph

fist

. g r . ph

English

grip

grip

g r . p

Old English

gripan ;

-

grap

gripe

to seize, to grasp ;

grasp, grip

grip; fistful

g r . p

 

 

Proto-Semitic *GARAP(H) --- *GRAP, *GRAB Indo-European

 

 

This entry is strictly related to number E 0383 grip (Hebrew 0377). The relationship in meaning between the English words "fist" and "grip" is evident. It is with the hand or fist that one grips something.

 

The initial vowel "E" indicated with the letter Aleph, א, in all probability is a confirming or neutral prefix, added to the root G R P .

 

Note:
  • Hebrew "P". The "P" at the end of a word in Hebrew is pronounced as an "F", for which it is customary in such cases to write "ph". The word "egroph" is considered as having been shaped with a root "G R P" ( as in the Indo European words) and a prosthetic Aleph and vowel A.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic . A Hebrew verb " ג ר ף, G R PH, garaph" stands for " to collect" and " to sweep away" . The same root is seen in various branches of Aramaic and with an initial "J" instead of "G" in Arabic . Proto-Semitic may have had a root the same root as Hebrew, with the initial prosthetic Aleph, but more probably just " ג ר ף, *G R P". It remains uncertain to what extent in Proto-Semitic final " P " may have become " PH " .

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic. We quote the Note in entry E 0383 grip (Hebrew 0377):

     

    The initial consonant-combination "GR" is seen in all old and new Germanic languages. The third consonant is either "P" or "B", but in the case of German "Griff, greifen" there is an "F", that is already seen in Old and Middle High German, but without having conquered the exclusive use .

     

    We then distinguish between a " I " group around "grip" that accentuates the solidity of the seizure and an "A"-group around "grab", in which the speed of the seizure is eminent. The resulting hypothesis for Proto-Germanic is "*GR I P" for " to seize" and "*GR A B" for "to grab". In both cases we may find some further extensions in development, like Middle High German "grappen, grapen = to touch, feel". In Middle Dutch a vowel "O" appears besides the normal "A", in the verbs "grobben", "grabben" and the iterative "grabbelen".

 

Note:
  • Root GRP. The root "GRP" and its variant "GRB" have given a wide production of important words in Indo-European languages. Some examples are : English "grip", "grasp" "grab" and "grabble", German "Griff" (grip) and "greifen" (to grip), Dutch "greep" (grip), "grijpen" (to grip) and also "grabbelen", an iterative version just as in English meaning "to grabble". But also in a further or more far-off Indo-European language as Lithuanian we find the same root in the word "griebti".

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. Our Note in E 0383 grip (Hebrew 0377) reads:

     

    Latin has a verb "carpo, carpĕre", that has many meanings regarding ways of taking something, basically by hand, and then later also with other means.Basic are "to pluck, to snatch , pick away, rip off".

     

    Old Indian for "to grasp, seize" uses the group "G R B-", in which sometimes the "R" assumes a vowel-like function, the "B" often becomes "BH", and now and then becomes "H". Examples are : "grbhnāti, (pf)jagraābha; (inf) gráhītum, (ptc) grbhītá, grbh- (seizing, gasping).

     

    Avestan has "gurvayeiti = seizes, holds, takes away".

     

    Hittite uses "karp- for "to seize, lift, take away".

     

     

    Indo-European used three consonants, of which the first was "G" and the second "R". The third was probably "P", though "B" cannot be excluded, especially as a variant. A vowel "A", was probably used after the "R" : "*GR A P-" and also "*GR A B-. It is possible that the "G" was pronounced usually or sometimes "GH and the "B" as "BH". There can be little certainty about this.

 

Note:
  • Griffe is a nowadays famous French word, used to indicate the signature of fashion-designers .Originally this word means "claw" and it is directly related to our root "GRP".

 

 

 

 
"...the town, to which was given the name Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the language of all the world on the face of which He dispersed them. GENESIS 11,9"
 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 21/01/2013 at 9.52.19