(verb) : prĕhenso, and more freq. prenso, āvi, ātum, 1, id.
* To grasp, seize, catch, lay hold of (not freq. till after the Aug. period).
* In gen.: prensare manu bracchia,Hor. S. 1, 9, 64: fastigia dextris,Verg. A. 2, 444: tenaci forcipe ferrum,id. ib. 12, 404: lubrica prensantes effugit umbra manus,Ov. F. 5, 476: prehensare hostium tela,Tac. H. 3, 28.
* In partic., to take hold of, detain a person, in order to talk with him, thank him, entreat him, etc.: arma, genua, vestigia prensando, flexere militum animos,Tac. H. 1, 66: commanipularium pectora,id. ib. 4, 46: itaque prenso amicos, supplico, ambio domos,Plin. Ep. 2, 9: prensatas exeuntium manus,Liv. 4, 60.
* Transf., to sue or solicit for an office: circumire et prensare patres,Liv. 1, 47, 7.—So absol.: prensat unus P. Galba,solicits for the consulship,Cic. Att. 1, 1, 1: nos initium prensandi facere cogitaramus,id. ib.

s. TLL