catch vb. (“caught” occurs 31 times, “catched” 4 times; the senses ‘overtake, come up with’ (Tp. V. i. 315, MND. II. i. 233, R3 II. ii. 44), ‘apprehend by the senses or intellect’ (LLL. II. i. 70, Ant. I. ii. 149, Sonn. cxiii. 8), ‘apprehend so as to adopt or appropriate’ (Mac. I. v. 19), and ‘catch a cold’ (Gent. I. ii. 133) are recorded first from S.; there are many other uses; the foll. are occas.)
1.
to attain,
get possession of
3H6 III. ii. 179
“I . . . Torment myself
to catch the English crown,”
Mac. I. vii. 3
“if the assassination
Could . . . catch With his surcease
success,”
Sonn. cxliii. 11; absol.
John I. i. 173
“have is have, however
men do catch.”
2.
fig. of contracting a
disease
MND. I. i. 189
“My tongue should catch
your tongue's sweet melody.”
3.
“catch the air”*, (?) gasp for
breath 2H6 III. ii.
371.
