seize
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: sēz
ipa: /siːz/
rhymes: -iːz
homophone: seas
homophone: sees
homophone: seise
Forms: form: seizes
form: seizing
form: seized
form: seized
Etymology: Earlier seise, from Middle English seisen, sesen, saisen, from Old French seisir (“to take possession of; invest (person, court)”), from Early Medieval Latin sacīre (“to lay claim to, appropriate”) (8th century) in the phrase ad propriam sacire, from Old Low Frankish *sakjan (“to sue, bring legal action”), from Proto-Germanic *sakjaną, *sakōną (compare Old English sacian (“to strive, brawl”)), from Proto-Germanic *sakaną (compare Old Saxon sakan (“to accuse”), Old High German sahhan (“to bicker, quarrel, rebuke”), Old English sacan (“to quarrel, claim by law, accuse”). Cognate to sake and Latin sāgiō (“to perceive acutely”).
Senses: synonyms: word: clasp
word: grasp
word: grip
word: beclasp
word: begrasp
word: begrip
word: belock
word: clasp
word: clench
word: clinch
word: cling
word: clutch
word: enclasp
word: fang
word: fondle
word: glaum
word: grab
word: grabble
word: grasp
word: grip
word: hang on
word: hold on
word: hold tight
word: hold
word: nab
word: nim
word: seize
word: stranglehold
word: take
glosses: To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture.
synonyms: jump on
glosses: To take advantage of (an opportunity or circumstance).
examples: text: to seize smuggled goods
text: to seize a ship after libeling
synonyms: attach
arrogate
commandeer
confiscate
impress
glosses: To take possession of (by force, law etc.).
examples: text: a panic seized the crowd
text: a fever seized him
text: This sensation of an object becoming alive is a characteristic that, I believe, seizes all viewers of a van Gogh. The Bible goes beyond being a simple still-life object to become a living thing, an expression of strength, an existence that emanates from itself, beyond the painting surface to participate in our very lives.
ref: 2010, Antonio Saggio, A Secret van Gogh: His Motif and Motives, →ISBN, page 11:
glosses: To have a sudden and powerful effect upon.
topics: law
glosses: Alternative spelling of seise (“to vest ownership of an estate in land”).
examples: text: to seize two fish-hooks back to back
text: to seize or stop one rope on to another
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: To bind, lash or make fast, with several turns of small rope, cord, or small line.
glosses: To fasten, fix.
examples: text: to seize on the neck of a horse
text: The text which had seized upon his heart with such comfort and strength abode upon him for more than a year.
ref: 1830, Robert Southey, Bunyan, page 21:
glosses: To lay hold in seizure, by hands or claws (+ on or upon).
examples: text: Nearing what she thought was a climax, he started seizing and fell off her. Later, realizing he was dead, she became alarmed and dragged the body to his vehicle to make it look like he had died in his truck.
ref: 2012, Daniel M. Avery, Tales of a Country Obstetrician:
glosses: To have a seizure.
examples: text: Rust caused the engine to seize, never to run again.
glosses: To bind or lock in position immovably; see also seize up.
glosses: To submit for consideration to a deliberative body.
examples: text: This Court will remain seized of this matter.
topics: law
glosses: (with of) To cause (an action or matter) to be or remain before (a certain judge or court).
examples: text: Chocolate seizes if a small amount of water (or watery liquid such as brandy) finds its way into the chocolate while it is melting. […] If chocolate seizes, it will look grainy and matte rather than glossy and smooth.
ref: 2012, Martha Holmberg, Modern Sauces: More Than 150 Recipes for Every Cook, Every Day, page 235:
topics: cooking
food
lifestyle
glosses: Of chocolate: to change suddenly from a fluid to an undesirably hard and gritty texture.
Derived terms: anti-seize
be seized of
be seized with
seizable
seize on
seize out
seizer
seize the day
seize the initiative
seize the opportunity
seize-up
seize up
seize upon
seizor
Related terms: seizure