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seized

[seez]

Example Sentences Origin

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verb (used with object)

to take hold of suddenly or forcibly; grasp: to seize a weapon.

to grasp mentally; understand clearly and completely: to seize an idea.

to take possession of by force or at will: to seize enemy ships.

to take possession or control of as if by suddenly laying hold: Panic seized the crowd.

to take possession of by legal authority; confiscate: to seize smuggled goods.

EXPAND

Also, seise. Law. to put (someone) in seizin or legal possession of property (usually used in passive constructions): She was seized of vast estates.

to capture; take into custody.

to take advantage of promptly: to seize an opportunity.

Nautical. to bind or fasten together with a seizing.

COLLAPSE

verb (used without object)

10.

to grab or take hold suddenly or forcibly (usually followed by on or upon): to seize on a rope.

11.

to resort to a method, plan, etc., in desperation (usually followed by on or upon): He must seize on a solution, however risky.

12.

to have moving parts bind and stop moving as a result of excessive pressure, temperature, or friction (usually followed by up): The engine seized up from cold.

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Seized is always a great word to know.

So is quincunx. Does it mean:

an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

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Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English saisen, seisen < Old French saisir < Medieval Latin sacīre to place (in phrase sacīre ad propriētam to take as one's own, lay claim to) < Frankish, perhaps akin to Gothic satjan to set, put, place

Related forms

seiz·a·ble, adjective

seiz·er; Law. sei·zor

[see-zer, -zawr] , noun

re·seize, verb (used with object), -seized, -seiz·ing.

un·seiz·a·ble, adjective

un·seized, adjective

Synonyms
1. clutch, grab. 7. arrest, apprehend. See catch.

Antonyms
7. release.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Example Sentences

Sirens wailed, and offenders were seized in the street.

And since the sum seized is often less than the legal costs of trying to get it back, many people never try.

They seized truckload after truckload of contraband timber.

EXPAND

Sirens wailed, and offenders were seized in the street.

And since the sum seized is often less than the legal costs of trying to get it back, many people never try.

They seized truckload after truckload of contraband timber.

One of the snakes had seized hold of its own tail, and the form whirled mockingly before my eyes.

He seized his weapon, which the panther and lion fells in the night time cruelly.

Some of the seized sites direct to a government-backed message that the site was seized.

They seized her laptop and video footage of the interviews she had conducted.

The end of the hijacking promised to resolve the mystery of why the plane was seized in the first place.

Racists have seized on warrior gene research as evidence that blacks are innately more violent than whites.

The real issue seems to be that the land is being zealously seized for cattle and sheep ranching.

Servers have been seized from a company with a specialized search tool, and free speech advocates are crying foul.

The best books are the ones where writers seized control and told the story they wanted to tell.

Police have closed the birthing centre she founded and seized its records.

Several brain scans and blood tests gave no clue as to why she seized.

There has not yet been an explanation for the source of the remainder of the seized money.

The two athletes were arrested and the videotape seized after other students reported.

Lane shows how drug companies seized on the newly minted disorders to sell millions of dollars' worth of psychotropic drugs.

My wife and our friends seized on this pretty amazing event as an opportunity to teach the kids about deer and their habits.

Gardner tossed his mortarboard over its head, seized it by the tail, and freed it in some nearby bushes.

Scores of popular books have seized on this purported dichotomy.

The skeptics seized on those two items of news to trumpet that global warming is a fraud.

Wildlife officials seized the bear after noticing its white fur was interspersed with brown patches.

Viallet seized what she knew was a unique opportunity.

Borrowers, meanwhile, face damaged credit histories and may have their wages and tax refunds seized by the government.

First the money markets seized up, as banks hoarded spare cash.

Desperate for its life, with the sweep of a mighty forepaw the ear seized one of the dogs by the neck and crushed it to death.

Most of the weapons seized would never be used against us and infact, were not actual weapons at all.

Any excuse to celebrate an anniversary is seized upon and milked for all it is worth.

Gasping, they seized bushes and pulled themselves onto a tundra-covered bench, then collapsed.

His laptop and two cell phones were seized by a forensic.

The prime minister seized the chance and served up the dish himself in an impromptu press conference.

Palfrey has seized the spotlight in recent weeks with a series of publicity maneuvers.

They seized hydroelectric plants and pumping stations on oil and.

Police will have to return all items seized during the execution of the warrant.

They become ineligible for additional federal aid and may have their wages and tax refunds seized by the government.

Sales have seized up, as at many other white-goods companies.

She is trying to accomplish something worthwhile in a state where the professoriate long ago seized control in its self-interest.

Right in the heart of the city they seized a half-built high-rise building from which they could not easily be dislodged.

The number of guns seized is a rough guide to their prevalence.

COLLAPSE

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

seize

1265, from O.Fr. seisir "to put in possession of, to take possession of," from L.L. sacire, generally held to be from a Gmc. source, perhaps from Frankish *sakjan "lay claim to" (cf. Goth. sokjan, O.E. secan "to seek;" see seek), or from P.Gmc. *satjan "to place" (see set (v.)).

EXPAND

Originally a legal term in ref. to feudal property holdings or offices. Meaning "to grip with the hands or teeth" is from c.1300; that of "to take possession by force or capture" (of a city, etc.) is from 1338. Fig. use, with ref. to death, disease, fear, etc. is from c.1381. Meaning "to grasp with the mind" is attested from 1855. Of engines or other mechanisms, attested from 1878.

COLLAPSE

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Matching Quote

"The true picture of the past flits by. The past can be seized only as an image which flashes up at the instant when it can be recognized and is never seen again."

-Walter Benjamin

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