inclasp
Extremely Rare / ArchaicPoetic / Archaic / Literary
Definition
Meaning
to clasp tightly; to embrace or encircle firmly with the hands or arms.
To hold securely in a grasp; to enclose or surround in a tight hold. Can be used figuratively to describe mentally grasping or comprehending something fully.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost entirely obsolete in modern English. 'Clasp' or 'grasp' are the standard modern verbs. 'Inclasp' carries a more poetic, deliberate, and encompassing sense than the simpler 'clasp'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No contemporary difference; the word is equally archaic and unused in both variants.
Connotations
Poetic, antiquated, possibly found in 19th-century literature or stylised writing.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in modern corpora for both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] inclasp [Object] (e.g., He inclasped her hand).[Subject] inclasp [Object] in [one's arms/hands] (e.g., She inclasped the child in her arms).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word itself is archaic and does not form part of modern idioms.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Never used.
Academic
Only in historical literary analysis.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Never used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The knight sought to inclasp the holy relic.
- She felt his fingers inclasp her own with surprising gentleness.
American English
- The poet wrote of shadows that inclasp the lonely house.
- He moved to inclasp the tiny bird carefully in his palms.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
American English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjectival form in use.
American English
- No standard adjectival form in use.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not applicable - word is far beyond A2 level.)
- (Not recommended for B1 learners.)
- The old tale described a tree whose roots inclasp a buried treasure.
- In his despair, he felt cold tendrils of fear inclasp his heart.
- The sculptor aimed to capture the moment the figure's hands inclasp the fragile vessel.
- Her memoir describes the silence that seemed to inclasp the valley each evening.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'IN' + 'CLASP' – to clasp something IN your hands, to bring it INto a clasp.
Conceptual Metaphor
AFFECTION/UNDERSTANDING IS HOLDING (e.g., to inclasp an idea).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'include' (включать).
- The prefix 'in-' here means 'into', not negation.
- The closest common equivalent is 'обхватить', 'сжать (в руках)'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in modern speech or writing.
- Confusing it with 'unclasp'.
- Spelling as 'enclasp' (a variant).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'inclasp' be MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic. You should use 'clasp', 'grasp', or 'hold' instead.
'Inclasp' is an older, more intensive and poetic form of 'clasp', suggesting enveloping or enclosing within the grasp. 'Clasp' is the standard modern term.
No, you should recognise it if you encounter it in old literature, but you should not actively learn it for production. Actively learning 'clasp' is far more useful.
Yes, 'enclasp' is a recorded variant with the same meaning and similar archaic status. The prefix 'en-' also means 'into' or 'on'.