seize
Forms
- present (v1)
- seize
- past (v2)
- seized
- past participle (v3)
- seized
- present participle
- seizing
- 3rd person singular
- seizes
Definitions
1.To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture.
2.To take advantage of (an opportunity or circumstance).
3.To take possession of (by force, law etc.).
4.To have a sudden and powerful effect upon.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3713
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
Earlier seise, from Middle English seisen, sesen, saisen, from Old French seisir (“to take possession of; invest (person, court)”), from Early Medieval Latin sacīre (“to lay claim to, appropriate”) (8th century) in the phrase ad propriam sacire, from Old Low Frankish *sakjan (“to sue, bring legal action”), from Proto-Germanic *sakjaną, *sakōną (compare Old English sacian (“to strive, brawl”)), from Proto-Germanic *sakaną (compare Old Saxon sakan (“to accuse”), Old High German sahhan (“to bicker, quarrel, rebuke”), Old English sacan (“to quarrel, claim by law, accuse”).