… almost grasp buttocks, controlling bodies (7)

I believe the answer is:

senates

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'controlling bodies' is the definition.
'senates' can be an answer for 'bodies' (I have seen 'Political bodies' mean 'senates' so perhaps 'bodies' could also mean 'senates'). I am not sure about the 'controlling' bit.

'almost grasp buttocks' is the wordplay.
'almost' means to remove the last letter (almost the whole word is kept).
'grasp' becomes 'see' (both can mean understand or comprehend).
'buttocks' becomes 'nates' (I've seen this in another clue).
'see' with its last letter removed is 'se'.
'se'+'nates'='SENATES'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for senates that I've seen before include "Governing bodies" , "Political bodies" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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