v.
Pronunciation: ' s ē z
Function: verb
Inflected Form: seized ; seiz · ing
Etymology: Middle English saisen, from Anglo-French seisir, from Medieval Latin sacire, of Germanic origin; perhaps akin to Old High German sezzen to set ― more at SET
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a usually seise \ ' s ē z \ : to vest ownership of a freehold estate in b often seise : to put in possession of something <the biographer will be seized of all pertinent papers>
2 a : to take possession of : CONFISCATE b : to take possession of by legal process
3 a : to possess or take by force : CAPTURE b : to take prisoner : ARREST
4 a : to take hold of : CLUTCH b : to possess oneself of : GRASP c : to understand fully and distinctly : APPREHEND
5 a : to attack or overwhelm physically : AFFLICT <suddenly seized with an acute illness ― H. G. Armstrong> b : to possess (as one's mind) completely or overwhelmingly < seized the popular imagination ― Basil Davenport>
6 : to bind or fasten together with a lashing of small stuff (as yarn, marline, or fine wire)
intransitive verb
1 : to take or lay hold suddenly or forcibly
2 a : to cohere to a relatively moving part through excessive pressure, temperature, or friction ― used especially of machine parts (as bearings, brakes, or pistons) b : to fail to operate due to the seizing of a part ― used of an engine
synonyms see TAKE
– seiz · er noun