Take hold

The astonishing sight of the Cristo do Corcovado took hold of our attention.

Then the highly virulent mental germs skillfully inoculated took a hold in the subconscious mind of European humanity; the disease developed rapidly, spread like wild fire, and raged unabated throughout the width and length of the central empires.

Contours of a deal with conservative holdouts who had been blocking McCarthy’s rise had emerged the night before, and took hold after four dismal days and 14 failed votes in an intraparty standoff unseen in modern times.

By now, a new worry had emerged. With the rescuers working close to so many dead bodies, there was fear of disease taking hold.