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   Seize

   /sēz/

   

   verb

   • 1. take hold of suddenly and forcibly: "she jumped up and seized his arm" Similar grabgraspsnatchseize hold ofgrab hold oftake hold oflay hold oflay (one's) hands onget one's hands ontake a grip ofgripclutchtakepluckOpposite let go of
   • ▪ take forcible possession of: "army rebels seized an air force base" Similar capturetakeoverrunannexoccupytake possession ofconquertake oversubjugatesubjectcolonizeOpposite relinquishretreat fromliberate
   • ▪ (of the police or another authority) take possession of (something) by warrant or legal right; confiscate; impound: "police have seized 726 lb of cocaine" Similar confiscateimpoundcommandeerrequisitionappropriateexpropriatetake possession ofsequestersequestratetake awaytake overtakedistrainattachdisseizepoindOpposite release
   • 2. take (an opportunity or initiative) eagerly and decisively: "he seized his chance to attack as Delaney hesitated"
   • 3. (of a feeling or pain) affect (someone) suddenly or acutely: "he was seized by the most dreadful fear"
   • 4. strongly appeal to or attract (the imagination or attention): "the story of the king's escape seized the public imagination"
   • ▪ understand (something) quickly or clearly: formal "he always strains to seize the most somber truths"
   • 5. (of a machine with moving parts or a moving part in a machine) become stuck or jammed: "I realized that the mechanism had seized"
   • 6. fasten or attach (someone or something) to something by binding with turns of rope: archaic "Jack was seized to the gun and had his two dozen lashes"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French seizir ‘give seisin’, from medieval Latin sacire, in the phrase ad proprium sacire ‘claim as one's own’, from a Germanic base meaning ‘procedure’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. seizable adjective
   • 2. seizer noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

   • I

     1

   • Z

     10

   • E

     1

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › seizeSeize Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › seize

   • Cached

   seize implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible. seized the suspect. grasp stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession. grasp the handle and pull.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSEIZE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   SEIZE definition: 1. to take something quickly and keep or hold it: 2. to take using sudden force: 3. If the police…. Learn more.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSEIZED | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   to take something quickly and keep or hold it: I seized his arm and made him turn to look at me. He seized the chance / opportunity of a free flight with both hands (= with eagerness or enthusiasm). C2 [ T ] to take using sudden force: The rebels have seized ten soldiers to use as hostages.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › seizeSEIZE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › seize

   • Cached

   Seize definition: to take hold of suddenly or forcibly; grasp. See examples of SEIZE used in a sentence.

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › seizedSEIZED Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › seized

   • Cached

   Seized definition: taken hold, possession, or control of, as by force or legal authority; confiscated, captured, or appropriated. See examples of SEIZED used in a sentence.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › seizeSeize - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › seize

   verb. take or capture by force. “The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages”. see more. verb. seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession. “She seized control of the throne after her husband died”. synonyms: arrogate, assume, take over, usurp. see more.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionseize verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

   • Cached

   seize something (from somebody) to take control of a place or situation, often suddenly and violently They seized the airport in a surprise attack. The army has seized control of the country. He seized power in a military coup. seize somebody to arrest or capture someone The men were seized as they left the building.