seize

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to take hold of something suddenly and firmly

   He seized her arm and pulled her back.

2. 2
   verb

   to take control or possession of something by force

   The army seized the city overnight.

3. 3
   verb

   to officially take something away, especially by law

   Police seized a large quantity of drugs.

4. 4
   verb

   to quickly and eagerly take advantage of an opportunity

   She seized the chance to study abroad.

Common collocations

• seize power Verb + noun

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…

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