Definition of the word grasp at

The phrase "grasp at" originated from the Middle English word "grassen," which means to take hold of or seize. This word was derived from the Old Norse "grása," which also means to grasp or seize. As English borrowed words from Old Norse during the Viking invasions in the 9th and 10th centuries, many Norse words entered the English lexicon, including "grassen." The preposition "at" started to collocate with "grassen" during the Middle English period, around the 13th century. "At" meant "towards" during this time, and it most likely added a spatial dimension to the expression. The meaning of "towards" morphed into "in attempt to reach or attain" over time as "grasp at" evolved into a phrasal verb. It became common in English in the 16th century, as evidenced in the works of William Shakespeare, who used it in his play "Pericles, Prince of Tyre" in 1608. In its modern usage, "grasp at" is a phrasal verb that means to attempt to obtain or achieve something tenuously. It is used when someone is trying to attain something beyond their reach or ability.