Chapter Grey to Grissel of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Grime, the partner of Item the usurer. It is to Grime that Item appeals when he wants to fudge his clients. The question, “Can we do so, Mr. Grime?” always brings the stock answer, “Quite impossible, Mr. Item.”—Holcroft: The Deserted Daughter (1784), altered into The Steward.

Grimes (Peter), the drunken, thievish son of a steady fisherman. He had a boy, whom he killed by ill usage, and two others he made away with; but escaped conviction through defect of evidence. As no one would live with him, he turned mad, was lodged in the parish poor-house, confessed his crimes in delirium, and died.—Crabbe: Borough, xxii. (1810).

Grimesby (Gaffer), an old farmer at Marlborough.—Sir W. Scott; Kenilworth (time Elizabeth).

Grimwig, an irascible old gentleman, who hid a very kind heart under a rough exterior. He was Mr. Brownlow’s great friend, and was always declaring himself ready to “eat his head” if he was mistaken on any point on which he passed an opinion.—Dickens: Oliver Twist (1837).

Grinderson (Mr. Gabriel), partner of Mr. Greenhorn. They are the attorneys who press sir Arthur Wardour for the payment of debts.—Sir W. Scott: The Antiquary (time, George III.).

Grip, the clever raven of Barnaby Rudge. During the Gordon riots it learnt the cry of “No Popery!” Other of its phrases were: “I’m a devil!” “Never say die!” “Polly, put the kettle on!” etc.—Dickens: Barnaby Rudge (1841).

Gripe , a scrivener, husband of Clarissa, but with a tendre for Araminta the wife of his friend Moneytrap. He is a miserly, money-loving, pig-headed hunks, but is duped out of £250 by his foolish liking for his neighbour’s wife. — Vanbrugh: The Confederacy (1695).

Gripe , the English name of Géronte, in Otway’s version of Molière’s comedy of Les Fourberies de Scapin (1671). His daughter, called in French Hyacinthe, is called “Clara,” and his son Leandre is Anglicized into “Leander.”—Otway: The Cheats of Scapin.

Gripe (Sir Francis), a man of 64, guardian of Miranda an heiress, and father of Charles. He wants to marry his ward for the sake of her money, and as she cannot obtain her property without his consent to her marriage, she pretends to be in love with him, and even fixes the day of espousals. “Gardy,” quite secure that he is the man of her choice, gives his consent to her marriage, and she marries sir George Airy, a man of 24. The old man laughs at sir George, whom he fancies he is duping, but he is himself the dupe all through.—Mrs. Centlivre: The Busy Body (1709).

December 2, 1790, Munden made his bow to the Covent Garden audience as “sir Francis Gripe.”— Memoirs of J. S. Munden (1832).

Gripus, a stupid, venal judge, uncle of Alcmena, and the betrothed of Phædra (Alcmena’s waiting-maid), in Dryden’s comedy of Amphitryon (1690). Neither Gripus nor Phædra is among the dramatis personæ of Molière’s comedy of Amphitryon (1668).

Grisilda or Griselda, the model of patience and s ubmission, meant to allegorize the submission of a holy mind to the will of God. Grisilda was the d aughter of a charcoal-burner, but became the wife of Walter marquis of Saluzzo. Her husband tried her, a s God tried Job, and with the same result: (1) He took away her infant daughter, and secretly conve yed it to the queen of Pavia to be brought up, while the mother was made to believe that it was murdered. (2) Four years later she had a son, which was also taken from her, and was sent to be brought up with his sister. (3) Eight years later, Grisilda was discovered, and sent back to her native cottage, because her husband, as she was told, intended to marry another. When, however, lord Walter saw no indication of murmuring or jealousy, he told Grisilda that the supposed rival was her own daughter, and her patience and submission met with their full reward.—Chaucer: Canterbury Tales (“The Clerk’s Tale,” 1388).