"clutched" in the verb sense
1. seize, prehend, clutch
take hold of grab
"The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter"
"She clutched her purse"
"The mother seized her child by the arm"
"Birds of prey often seize small mammals"
2. cling to, hold close, hold tight, clutch
hold firmly, usually with one's hands
"She clutched my arm when she got scared"
3. seize, clutch, get hold of
affect
"Fear seized the prisoners"
"The patient was seized with unbearable pains"
"He was seized with a dreadful disease"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
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