seize

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   affect

   Fear seized the prisoners

2. 2
   verb

   take or capture by force

   The terrorists seized the politicians

3. 3
   verb

   take possession of by force, as after an invasion

   the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants

4. 4
   verb

   take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority

   The FBI seized the drugs

5. 5
   verb

   To take possession of (by force, law etc.).

   to seize smuggled goods

6. 6
   verb

   To have a sudden and powerful effect upon.

   a panic seized the crowd

7. 7
   verb

   To bind, lash or make fast, with several turns of small rope, cord, or small line.

   to seize two fish-hooks back to back

8. 8
   verb

   To lay hold in seizure, by hands or claws (+ on or upon).

   to seize on the neck of a horse

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 Lati…