(a) To grasp (sth.), seize, take hold of; pick up (sth.); catch (sth. thrown); of a blade, etc.: hold (sth.) by piercing, stick fast in (sth.); -- also refl.; (b) ~ awei, to take (sth.) away, snatch away, chop off (someone's head); ~ in armes, embrace (sb.); ~ forth, ~ out, draw (a weapon) suddenly; ~ from, ~ of, snatch (sth.) from (sb.); take (sb.) off (a horse); also fig.; ~ of, take off (one's crown, etc.) quickly; ~ toward, snatch at (sth.), clutch at; ~ up, pick (sth.) up quickly; (c) to fasten (sth.), become fastened, stick to (sth.); of a seed: take root; ~ rote, ~ up; ~ in, wrap (sb. in clothes); (d) to draw (water); (e) to gather (things), assemble (persons), collect; (f) to steal, pilfer, filch; (g) of a joint: to double up tight, become clenched; (h) of broth: to thicken, become jellied.

(a) To capture (sb.), arrest, catch; capture (a place), occupy (a battlefield); catch up with and stop (sb.), overtake; (b) to catch (an animal in the chase, with a snare or trap, etc.); entrap (sb.); also fig.; (c) to catch (fish with a hook, net, trap, etc.); (d) fig. of desire, sorrow, disease, death, a vice, the Devil, etc.: to get possession of (sb.), overcome, afflict; ~ in, afflict (one's face); ~ on, seize upon (sb.), become habitual with; ~ to, to seize, afflict; caught with drink, drunk, tipsy.

(a) To obtain (sth.), acquire, attain, take; -- also refl.; cacching, acquisitive; ~ aqueintaunce, make the acquaintance of (sb.); ~ avauntage (of), obtain an advantage, take advantage of; ~ ayen countenaunce, recover (one's) composure; ~ breth, get (one's) breath; ~ opportunite, find an opportunity; ~ rest, get some rest; ~ slep, go to sleep; ~ veil, take the veil, become a nun; ~ in, ~ of; (b) to get (an idea, an opinion, a suspicion, a thought), conceive, think of; obtain (skill, knowledge, etc.); perceive (sound); make an observation of (a star); ~ in remembraunce, remember (sth.); ~ of, ~ out of, get (words, knowledge, etc.) from (a book, a person); (c) to reach (a place), arrive at; also, to reach or find (a path, shelter).

(a) To receive (sth.), be given (sth.); ~ blame, be blamed; ~ colour, receive color; also, blush; ~ fir, catch on fire; ~ hele, ~ helth, become healthy; ~ word, get (a reputation); (b) to have (care, sorrow, anger, comfort, desire, pleasure, etc.), feel, experience; (c) to receive (a blow, a wound, injury, death), suffer (sth.); (d) to catch (a disease); (e) ?to rescue (sb.), harbor.

In phrases, etc. [senses 3, 4]: ~ cold, to become cold; ~ herte, be encouraged, take heart; ~ hete, become hot; ~ leve, take (one's) leave (of sb.); ~ name, win a name, receive a name, be named; ~ to name, assume (sth.) as one's name or title; ~ who so mai, let him win who can; ~ who that ~ might, catch as catch can.

(a) To chase (sth.), drive, pursue; ~ in (into, to), drive (sb.) into (a place); fig. drive (sb.) to (care, death, sorrow); (b) ~ wei, ~ awei, to chase (sth.) away; often fig.; (c) to urge (sb. to do sth.), incite; provoke (sb. to anger); urge (a horse) to greater speed; ~ on; ~ forth wirdes, to hasten (someone's) fate; (d) to go quickly, hurry; ~ on, hurry on, rush.

In cpds. and combs. [senses 1-6]: (a) ~ ken, a servant in charge of hunting dogs [AF *cachekien; cp. ME chacechien]; ~ pol, q.v.; (b) in names.