seize

To seize is to take something eagerly, aggressively or by force.

(verb)

An example of seize is when you jump at a chance to go to the beach on a sunny day.
An example of seize is when the police raid the home of a drug dealer and take his drugs.

See seize in Webster's New World College Dictionary

1. Historical to put in legal possession of a feudal holding
2. to put in legal possession of a particular thing; assign ownership to: in the passive voice: seized of the lands
1. to take forcible legal possession of; confiscate: to seize contraband
2. to capture and put into custody; arrest; apprehend: to seize a criminal suspect
to take forcibly and quickly; grab: to seize power
to take hold of suddenly or forcibly, with or as with the hand; clutch
1. to suddenly penetrate, illumine, or fill the mind of: an idea seized him
2. to grasp with the mind, esp. in a sudden or intuitive way: seized their intent
to take quick advantage of (an opportunity, etc.)
to attack or afflict suddenly or severely: seized with a fit of sneezing
Naut. to fasten together (ropes, etc.), as by lashings; bind; lash

Origin: ME saisen < OFr saisir < ML sacire, prob. < Frank *sakjan, to lay claim to one's rights < IE base *sāg- > sake

intransitive verb

to stick or jam, esp. because of excessive heat or friction: said of a machine or its moving parts: often with up

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See seize in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb seized seized, seiz·ing, seiz·es

verb, transitive

To grasp suddenly and forcibly; take or grab: seize a sword.
a. To grasp with the mind; apprehend: seize an idea and develop it to the fullest extent.
b. To possess oneself of (something): seize an opportunity.
a. To have a sudden overwhelming effect on: a heinous crime that seized the minds and emotions of the populace.
b. To overwhelm physically: a person who was seized with a terminal disease.
To take into custody; capture.
To take quick and forcible possession of; confiscate: seize a cache of illegal drugs.
also seise
a. To put (one) into possession of something.
b. To vest ownership of a feudal property in.
Nautical To bind (a rope) to another, or to a spar, with turns of small line.

verb, intransitive

To lay sudden or forcible hold of.
a. To cohere or fuse with another part as a result of high pressure or temperature and restrict or prevent further motion or flow.
b. To come to a halt: The talks seized up and were rescheduled.
To exhibit symptoms of seizure activity, usually with convulsions.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English seisen

Origin: , from Old French seisir, to take possession

Origin: , of Germanic origin

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