Tool that grips depravity (4)
I believe the answer is:
vice
'depravity' is the definition.
(moral depravity)
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for vice that I've seen before include "Workshop tool - bad habit" , "item in workshop" , "may have a powerful grip" , "Gripper - depravity" , "Gripper - sin" .)