Search Result for "seize": 
Wordnet 3.0

VERB (8)

1. take hold of; grab;
- Example: "The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter"
- Example: "She clutched her purse"
- Example: "The mother seized her child by the arm"
- Example: "Birds of prey often seize small mammals"
[syn: seize, prehend, clutch]

2. take or capture by force;
- Example: "The terrorists seized the politicians"
- Example: "The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages"

3. take possession of by force, as after an invasion;
- Example: "the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants"
- Example: "The army seized the town"
- Example: "The militia captured the castle"
[syn: appropriate, capture, seize, conquer]

4. take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority;
- Example: "The FBI seized the drugs"
- Example: "The customs agents impounded the illegal shipment"
- Example: "The police confiscated the stolen artwork"
[syn: impound, attach, sequester, confiscate, seize]

5. seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession;
- Example: "He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"
- Example: "he usurped my rights"
- Example: "She seized control of the throne after her husband died"
[syn: assume, usurp, seize, take over, arrogate]

6. hook by a pull on the line;
- Example: "strike a fish"

7. affect;
- Example: "Fear seized the prisoners"
- Example: "The patient was seized with unbearable pains"
- Example: "He was seized with a dreadful disease"
[syn: seize, clutch, get hold of]

8. capture the attention or imagination of;
- Example: "This story will grab you"
- Example: "The movie seized my imagination"
[syn: grab, seize]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Seize \Seize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seized; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Seizing.] [OE. seisen, saisen, OF. seisir, saisir, F.
   saisir, of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. set. The meaning
   is properly, to set, put, place, hence, to put in possession
   of. See Set, v. t.]
   1. To fall or rush upon suddenly and lay hold of; to gripe or
      grasp suddenly; to reach and grasp.
      [1913 Webster]

            For by no means the high bank he could seize.
                                                  --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

            Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands
            The royalties and rights of banished Hereford?
                                                  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To take possession of by force.
      [1913 Webster]

            At last they seize
            The scepter, and regard not David's sons. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To invade suddenly; to take sudden hold of; to come upon
      suddenly; as, a fever seizes a patient.
      [1913 Webster]

            Hope and deubt alternate seize her seul. --Pope.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (law) To take possession of by virtue of a warrant or
      other legal authority; as, the sheriff seized the debtor's
      goods.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. To fasten; to fix. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            As when a bear hath seized her cruel claws
            Upon the carcass of some beast too weak. --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. To grap with the mind; to comprehend fully and distinctly;
      as, to seize an idea.
      [1913 Webster]

   7. (Naut.) To bind or fasten together with a lashing of small
      stuff, as yarn or marline; as, to seize ropes.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: This word, by writers on law, is commonly written
         seise, in the phrase to be seised of (an estate), as
         also, in composition, disseise, disseisin.
         [1913 Webster]

   To be seized of, to have possession, or right of
      possession; as, A B was seized and possessed of the manor
      of Dale. "Whom age might see seized of what youth made
      prize." --Chapman.

   To seize on or To seize upon, to fall on and grasp; to
      take hold on; to take possession of suddenly and forcibly.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: To catch; grasp; clutch; snatch; apprehend; arrest;
        take; capture.
        [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

seize
    v 1: take hold of; grab; "The sales clerk quickly seized the
         money on the counter"; "She clutched her purse"; "The
         mother seized her child by the arm"; "Birds of prey often
         seize small mammals" [syn: seize, prehend, clutch]
    2: take or capture by force; "The terrorists seized the
       politicians"; "The rebels threaten to seize civilian
       hostages"
    3: take possession of by force, as after an invasion; "the
       invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants";
       "The army seized the town"; "The militia captured the castle"
       [syn: appropriate, capture, seize, conquer]
    4: take temporary possession of as a security, by legal
       authority; "The FBI seized the drugs"; "The customs agents
       impounded the illegal shipment"; "The police confiscated the
       stolen artwork" [syn: impound, attach, sequester,
       confiscate, seize]
    5: seize and take control without authority and possibly with
       force; take as one's right or possession; "He assumed to
       himself the right to fill all positions in the town"; "he
       usurped my rights"; "She seized control of the throne after
       her husband died" [syn: assume, usurp, seize, take
       over, arrogate]
    6: hook by a pull on the line; "strike a fish"
    7: affect; "Fear seized the prisoners"; "The patient was seized
       with unbearable pains"; "He was seized with a dreadful
       disease" [syn: seize, clutch, get hold of]
    8: capture the attention or imagination of; "This story will
       grab you"; "The movie seized my imagination" [syn: grab,
       seize]