An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The process in which an atomic, nuclear, or astronomical system acquires an additional particle or body.

Etymology (EN): From M.Fr. capture “a taking,” from L. captura “a taking,” from captus p.p. of capere “to take, hold, seize;” PIE base *kap- “to grasp” (cf. Skt. kapati “measure equal to the capacity of the hollows of the two hands joined;” Gk. kaptein “to swallow;” O.Ir. cacht “servant-girl,” literally “captive;” Goth. haban “have, hold;” O.E. habban, E. have “to have, hold;” probably Mod.Pers. qâp-, qâpidan, kapidan “to seize, rob”).

Etymology (PE): Gir-oft, composite verb from gir + oft. Gir “take, seize, hold,” from gereftan, from O.Pers./Av. grab- “to take, seize,”
cf. Skt. grah-, grabh- “to seize, take,” graha- “seizing, holding, perceiving,” M.L.G. grabben “to grab,” from P.Gmc. *grab, E. grab “to take or grasp suddenly;” PIE *ghrebh- “to seize.” Oft, from oftâtan “to fall; to befal, happen,” Mid.Pers. opastan, Av. pat- " to fly, fall, rush," Skt. patati “he flies, falls,” L. petere “to fall, rush out,” Gk. piptein “to fall,” PIE base *pet- “to fly, to rush.” Gir-andâzi, from gir + andâzi, verbal noun from gir-andâxtan “to throw, cast; to do, make.”