Lexical Definition

‎καθάπτω‎ katháptō (kath-ap'-to) to attach ^G:V
from ‎κατά‎ and ‎ἅπτομαι‎

fasten on.

• to seize upon

Abbott-Smith

** καθ-άπτω, [in Sm.: Ca 1:6*;]
1. to fasten on, put upon, c. acc.
2. Act. for mid. (cf. Bl., § 53, 3), to lay hold of, attack: c. gen., χειρός, Ac 28:3.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

καθάπτω,

Ionic dialect κατ-, fasten or fix on, put upon, καθῆψεν ὤμοις.. ἀμφίβληστρον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἄγκυραν καθάψας having made it fast, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—middle, κισσὸν ἐπὶ κρατὶ καθάπτεσθαι [Refs 3rd c.BC+]:— passive, βρόχῳ καθημμένος [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__2 equip by fastening or hanging on, in middle, σκευῇ σῶμ᾽ ἐμὸν καθάψομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, νεβρίνῃ καθημμένος δορᾷ with a fawn-skin slung round him, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__3 intransitive, attach itself, εἴς τι, πρός τι, [Refs 4th c.BC+], fasten upon, τῆς χειρός τινος [NT+2nd c.AD+]
__II used by [Refs 8th c.BC+]middle, καθάπτεσθαί τινα ἐπέεσσι, in good or bad sense, as, σὺ τόν γ᾽ ἐπέεσσι καθάπτεσθαι μαλακοῖσι do thou accost him.., [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μαλακοῖσι καθαπτόμενος ἐπέεσσιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but also ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσι καθαπτόμενος assailing.. , [Refs 8th c.BC+]: without a qualifying adjective, accost, assail, ἐπέεσσι καθάπτετο θοῦρον Ἄρηα [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__II.2 after [Refs 8th c.BC+], with genitive, upbraid, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.3 in military sense, attack, καθαψάμενοι τῆς οὐραγίας [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__II.4 appeal to, θεῶν.. καταπτόμενος appealing to them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.5 lay hold of, τυραννίδος [Refs 6th c.BC+]; τῆς θαλάσσης take to the sea, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: active, καθάπτων τοῦ τραχήλου [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.6 to be sensitive in respect of, ψόφου [Refs 5th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Acts.28.3}