■ verb
1》 take hold of suddenly and forcibly.
↘take forcible possession of.
↘(of the police or another authority) take possession of by warrant or legal right.
2》 take (an opportunity) eagerly and decisively.
↘( ~ on/upon ) take eager advantage of.
3》 affect suddenly or acutely.
4》 (of a machine with moving parts or a moving part in a machine) become jammed.
5》 (also seise ) ( be ~d of ) English Law be in legal possession of.
↘ historical have or receive freehold possession of (property).
↘be aware or informed of.
Derivatives
seizable adjective
~r noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. seizir 'give seisin', from med. L. sacire , in the phr. ad proprium sacire 'claim as one's own', from a Gmc base meaning 'procedure'.