seize

English

/siːz/

verb
Definitions
  • (transitive) To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture.
  • (transitive) To take advantage of (an opportunity or circumstance).
  • (transitive) To take possession of (by force, law etc.).
  • (transitive) To have a sudden and powerful effect upon.
  • (transitive) To bind, lash or make fast, with several turns of small rope, cord, or small line.
  • (transitive) To fasten, fix.
  • (intransitive) To lay hold in seizure, by hands or claws (+ on (on) or upon (upon)).
  • (intransitive) To have a seizure.
  • (intransitive) To bind or lock in position immovably; see also seize up.
  • (UK) To submit for consideration to a deliberative body.
  • (law) (with of) To cause (an action or matter) to be or remain before (a certain judge or court).

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English seisen borrowed from Old French seisir (take possession of, invest, court, put in possession of) derived from Latin sacīre borrowed from Frankish *sakjan (sue, bring a legal charge against, litigate, accuse, bring legal action) inherited from Proto-Germanic *sakjaną, *sakaną (quarrel).

Origin

Proto-Germanic

*sakaną

Gloss

quarrel

Concept
Semantic Field

Social and political relations

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms