Seize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Seizing.] [OE. seisen, saisen, OF. seisir, saisir, F. saisir, of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. set. The meaning is properly, to set, put, place, hence, to put in possession of. See Set, v. t.]
1. To fall or rush upon suddenly and lay hold of; to gripe or grasp suddenly; to reach and grasp.
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For by no means the high bank he could seize. Spenser.
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Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands
The royalties and rights of banished Hereford? Shak.
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2. To take possession of by force.
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At last they seize
The scepter, and regard not David's sons. Milton.
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3. To invade suddenly; to take sudden hold of; to come upon suddenly; as, “a fever seizes a patient”.
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Hope and deubt alternate seize her seul. Pope.
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4. (law) To take possession of by virtue of a warrant or other legal authority; as, “the sheriff seized the debtor's goods”.
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5. To fasten; to fix. [Obs.]
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As when a bear hath seized her cruel claws
Upon the carcass of some beast too weak. Spenser.
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6. To grap with the mind; to comprehend fully and distinctly; as, “to seize an idea”.
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7. (Naut.) To bind or fasten together with a lashing of small stuff, as yarn or marline; as, “to seize ropes”.
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☞ This word, by writers on law, is commonly written seise, in the phrase to be seised of (an estate), as also, in composition, disseise, disseisin.
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To be seized of, to have possession, or right of possession; as, “A B was seized and possessed of the manor of Dale.” “Whom age might see seized of what youth made prize.” Chapman. -- To seize on or To seize upon, to fall on and grasp; to take hold on; to take possession of suddenly and forcibly.
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Syn. -- To catch; grasp; clutch; snatch; apprehend; arrest; take; capture.
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