seize Meaning & Definition
What Does Seize Mean?
Seize is used as a verb meaning to vest ownership of a freehold estate in. It can also mean to put in possession of something.
Seize at a Glance
| Part of speech | verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈsēz/ |
| Synonyms | clutch, appropriate and capture |
| Antonyms | miss, misapprehend and misconceive |
| Verb forms | seizes, seizing, seized |
Seize Definition (Verb)
- to vest ownership of a freehold estate in
- to put in possession of something
the biographer will be seized of all pertinent papers
- to take possession of : confiscate
- to take possession of by legal process
- to possess or take by force : capture
- to take prisoner : arrest
- to take hold of : clutch
- to possess oneself of : grasp
- to understand fully and distinctly : apprehend
- to attack or overwhelm physically : afflict
seized with chest pains
- to possess (someone's thoughts, mind, etc.) completely or overwhelmingly
… seized the popular imagination …
- to bind or fasten together with a lashing of small stuff (such as yarn, marline, or fine wire)
- to take or lay hold suddenly or forcibly
- to cohere to a relatively moving part through excessive pressure, temperature, or friction
- to fail to operate due to the seizing of a part
Synonyms of Seize
Antonyms of Seize
Seize in a Sentence
to seize smuggled goods
to seize a ship after libeling
a panic seized the crowd
a fever seized him
to seize two fish-hooks back to back
to seize or stop one rope on to another
to seize on the neck of a horse
Rust caused the engine to seize, never to run again.
This Court will remain seized of this matter.
the biographer will be seized of all pertinent papers
seized with chest pains
… seized the popular imagination …
a critic with a sharp intellect that is able to seize the most subtle nuances of a work of art
seized the leaders of one of the city's major drug rings
seized the escaping balloon just before it got out of reach
Richard III seized the English throne from his brother Edward in 1483
Word Forms & Grammar
seized
seiz·ing
seiz·er noun
seise
seised
seises
seising
seize
seizer
seizers
seizes
seizing
seize (third-person singular simple present seizes, present participle seizing, simple past and past participle seized)
Words That Rhyme With Seize
Origin of Seize
Origin 1: Middle English saisen, from Anglo-French seisir, from Medieval Latin sacire, of Germanic origin; perhaps akin to Old High German sezzen to set set
Origin 2: 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”).[1] Cognate to sake and Latin sāgiō (“to perceive acutely”).
First Known Use
14th centuryt
Quick Answers About Seize
What part of speech is seize?
Seize is a verb.
What is another word for seize?
You can replace seize with words such as clutch, appropriate and capture. See the full list of seize synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of seize?
Words opposite in meaning to seize are miss, misapprehend, misconceive and misconstrue.
What is the past tense of seize?
The past tense of seize is seized. The present participle is seizing.