Obsolete form of griping. (pinching and spasmodic pain in the intestines)
"The sailor groaned as he suffered a gripping attack that left him doubled over on the deck."
present participle of grip
"The police quickly secured the suspect by gripping his arm tightly and pulling him away from the crowd."
capable of arousing and holding the attention
"a fascinating story"
Which catches someone's attention; exciting
"The gripping story kept me up late, as I couldn't stop turning pages to find out what happened next."