A wave of cold and snowy weather continues to grip Europe, grounding airplanes, trains and cars and causing dozens of deaths. 

grip: of an emotion or a situation 情绪或形势 to have a powerful effect on somebody/something 对...产生强有力的影响

I was gripped by a feeling of panic. 我惊恐万状.

Terrorism has gripped the country for the past two years. 两年来恐怖主义一直笼罩着这个国家.

Britons shivering through one of the coldest winters to hit the United Kingdom in decades got no reprieve from Mother Nature on Sunday. Channel 4 and other British media delivered more bad news - including weather-related deaths. 

reprieve: a delay before something bad happens 延缓;缓解

Campaigners have won a reprieve for the hospital threatened with closure.
活动家们为这家受关闭威胁的医院赢得了喘息的机会.