seizing

[see-zing]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR seizing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of a person or thing that seizes.

Nautical. a means of binding or fastening together two objects, as two ropes, or parts of the same rope, by a number of longitudinal and transverse turns of marline, wire, or other small stuff.

Origin of seizing

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at seize, -ing¹

seize

[seez]

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

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.

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.

verb (used without object), seized, seiz·ing.

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

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

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.

Origin of seize

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 formsseiz·a·ble, adjectiveseiz·er; Law. sei·zor

[see-zer, -zawr] /ˈsi zər, -zɔr/, nounre·seize, verb (used with object), re·seized, re·seiz·ing.un·seiz·a·ble, adjectiveun·seized, adjective

Synonyms for seize

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR seize ON THESAURUS.COM

1. clutch, grab. 7. arrest, apprehend.

Synonym study

7. See catch.

Antonyms for seize

7. release.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for seizing

catch, snatch, confiscate, commandeer, force, capture, arrest, apprehend, annex, occupy, ambush, take, hijack, kidnap, grab, overrun, impound, grip, enfold, compass

Examples from the Web for seizing

Contemporary Examples of seizing

But Beyoncé has been nothing if not a master of seizing her own crisis management.
Beyonce’s New “7/11” and “Ring Off” Will Give You Reason to Live (And Dance)
Kevin Fallon
November 21, 2014
Seizing Mariupol would be a major blow to Ukraine, which had been winning the war in the east in recent months.
Defying NATO, Ignoring Ceasefire, Russian-Backed Troops Keep Rolling
Ted Phillips
September 4, 2014
Seizing on this scene, critics called the novel “an allegory of our violent times.”
American Dreams: A Best-Selling Pint-Sized Psychopath
Nathaniel Rich
June 29, 2014
ISIS says it killed at least 1,700 people after seizing the city of Mosul two weeks ago.
Why ISIS Won’t Take Baghdad
Jamie Dettmer
June 28, 2014
The seizing of an American reporter was only a matter of time, and the bespectacled and disheveled Ostrovsky was a prime target.
Putin’s Men in Ukraine Seize U.S. Journalist
Jamie Dettmer
April 23, 2014

Historical Examples of seizing

Seizing the lamp from the hearth, she hastened to the window that overlooked the street-door.
The Wives of The Dead
Nathaniel Hawthorne
But the rest of the men slept heavily, seizing the unwonted chance.
The Leopard Woman
Stewart Edward White
Seizing Taffy by the hand, he led him into what was the storehouse of the cave.
Welsh Fairy Tales
William Elliott Griffis
Seizing a match-box, he struck a light and held it to the hook.
The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood
I asked the staff-captain, seizing him by the arm, and involuntarily rejoicing.
A Hero of Our Time
M. Y. Lermontov

British Dictionary definitions for seizing

seizing

noun

nautical a binding used for holding together two ropes, two spars, etc, esp by lashing with a separate rope

seize

verb (mainly tr)

(also intr foll by on ) to take hold of quickly; grabshe seized her hat and ran for the bus

(sometimes foll by on or upon) to grasp mentally, esp rapidlyshe immediately seized his idea

to take mental possession ofalarm seized the crowd

to take possession of rapidly and forciblythe thief seized the woman's purse

to take legal possession of; take into custody

to take by force or capturethe army seized the undefended town

to take immediate advantage ofto seize an opportunity

nautical to bind (two ropes together or a piece of gear to a rope)See also serve (def. 19)

(intr often foll by up) (of mechanical parts) to become jammed, esp because of excessive heat

(passive usually foll by of) to be apprised of; conversant with

the usual US spelling of seise

Derived Formsseizable, adjective

Word Origin for seize

C13 saisen, from Old French saisir, from Medieval Latin sacīre to position, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic satjan to set 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for seizing

seize

mid-13c., from Old French seisir "to take possession of, take by force; put in possession of, bestow upon" (Modern French saisir), from Late Latin sacire, which is generally held to be from a Germanic source, but the exact origin is uncertain. Perhaps from Frankish *sakjan "lay claim to" (cf. Gothic sokjan, Old English secan "to seek;" see seek). Or perhaps from Proto-Germanic *satjan "to place" (see set (v.)).

Originally a legal term in reference 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 mid-14c. Figurative use, with reference to death, disease, fear, etc. is from late 14c. Meaning "to grasp with the mind" is attested from 1855. Of engines or other mechanisms, attested from 1878. Related: Seized; seizing.