seize / sēz/ • v. 1. [tr.] take hold of suddenly and forcibly: she jumped up and seized his arm she seized hold of the door handle. ∎  capture (a place) using force: army rebels seized an air force base. ∎  assume (power or control) by force: the current president seized power in a coup. ∎  (of the police or another authority) take possession of (something) by warrant or legal right; confiscate; impound: police have seized 726 lb of cocaine. ∎  take (an opportunity or initiative) eagerly and decisively: he seized his chance to attack as Delaney hesitated. ∎  (of a feeling or pain) affect (someone) suddenly or acutely: he was seized by the most dreadful fear. ∎  strongly appeal to or attract (the imagination or attention): the story of the king's escape seized the public imagination. ∎ formal understand (something) quickly or clearly: he always strains to seize the most somber truths.2. [intr.] (of a machine with moving parts or a moving part in a machine) become stuck or jammed: the engine seized up after only three weeks.3. (also seise) (be seized of) English Law be in legal possession of: the court is currently seized of custody applications. ∎  hist. have or receive freehold possession of (property): any person who is seized of land has a protected interest in that land. ∎  be aware or informed of: the judge was fully seized of the point.4. archaic Naut. fasten or attach (someone or something) to something by binding with turns of rope.PHRASES: seize the day make the most of the present moment.PHRASAL VERBS: seize on/upon take eager advantage of (something); exploit for one's own purposes: the government has eagerly seized on the evidence to deny any link between deprivation and crime.DERIVATIVES: seiz·a·ble adj.seiz·er n.

seize
A. put in (feudal) possession (of);

B. take possession or hold of XIII;

C. arrive at XVI;

D. (naut.) lash together with cord, etc. XVII; (of surfaces) unite XIX. — OF. seisir, (also mod.) saisir :- Gallo-Rom., Frankish L. sacīre, of Gmc. orig.
Hence seizure XV.