The word “gripe” functions with remarkable versatility in literary language, shifting between the concrete and the figurative. In some instances it describes a literal, sometimes violent, physical grasp—as when characters seize or clutch with astonishing force ([1], [2], [3], [4])—while in others it becomes a metaphor for an inescapable hold on the heart or mind ([5], [6], [7]). Its usage spans centuries and genres, appearing in Anglo‐Saxon verse and medieval epics ([8], [9], [10]) as well as in the exuberant language of Renaissance and later works ([11], [12], [13]). Through these varied contexts, “gripe” conveys a sense of relentless, almost fated, control, whether that be through the oppressive clutch of power or the tender grip of emotion.