seize

Etymology

Earlier seise, from Middle English seisen, sesen, saisen, from Old French seisir (“to take possession of; invest (person, court)”), from Early Medieval Latin sacīre (8th century) in the phrase ad propriam sacire, from Old Low Frankish *sakjan (“to sue, bring legal action”), from Proto-Germanic *sakjaną, *sakōną (compare Old English sacian (“to strive, brawl”)), from Proto-Germanic *sakaną (compare Old Saxon sakan (“to accuse”), Old High German sahhan (“to bicker, quarrel, rebuke”), Old English sacan (“to quarrel, claim by law, accuse”). Cognate to sake and Latin sagio (“to perceive acutely”).

verb

1. (transitive) To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture.
2. (transitive) To take advantage of (an opportunity or circumstance).
3. (transitive) To take possession of (by force, law etc.).
   to seize smuggled goods
   to seize a ship after libeling
4. (transitive) To have a sudden and powerful effect upon.
   This sensation of an object becoming alive is a characteristic that, I believe, seizes all viewers of a van Gogh. The Bible goes beyond being a simple still-life object to become a living thing, an expression of strength, an existence that emanates from itself, beyond the painting surface to participate in our very lives. 2010, Antonio Saggio, A Secret van Gogh: His Motif and Motives, page 11
   a panic seized the crowd
   a fever seized him
5. (transitive, law) Alternative spelling of seise (“to vest ownership of an estate in land”).
6. (transitive, nautical) To bind, lash or make fast, with several turns of small rope, cord, or small line.
   to seize two fish-hooks back to back
   to seize or stop one rope on to another
7. (transitive, obsolete) To fasten, fix.
8. (intransitive) To lay hold in seizure, by hands or claws (+ on or upon).
   The text which had seized upon his heart with such comfort and strength abode upon him for more than a year. 1830, Robert Southey, Bunyan, page 21
   to seize on the neck of a horse
9. (intransitive) To have a seizure.
   Nearing what she thought was a climax, he started seizing and fell off her. Later, realizing he was dead, she became alarmed and dragged the body to his vehicle to make it look like he had died in his truck. 2012, Daniel M. Avery, Tales of a Country Obstetrician
10. (intransitive) To bind or lock in position immovably; see also seize up.
    Rust caused the engine to seize, never to run again.
11. (UK, intransitive) To submit for consideration to a deliberative body.
12. (law) (with of) To cause (an action or matter) to be or remain before (a certain judge or court).
    This Court will remain seized of this matter.
13. (transitive, intransitive, cooking) Of chocolate: to change suddenly from a fluid to an undesirably hard and gritty texture.
    Chocolate seizes if a small amount of water (or watery liquid such as brandy) finds its way into the chocolate while it is melting. […] If chocolate seizes, it will look grainy and matte rather than glossy and smooth. 2012, Martha Holmberg, Modern Sauces: More Than 150 Recipes for Every Cook, Every Day, page 235