Added 29 September 2026
seize
/ˈsiːz/ verb
In Latin: capiō, possideō, prehendō Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about seize at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture.
- To take advantage of (an opportunity or circumstance).
-
To take possession of (by force, law etc.).
to seize smuggled goods
Origin
Earlier seise, from Middle English seisen, sesen, saisen, from Old French seisir (“to take possession of; invest (person, court)”), from Early Medieval Latin sacīre (“to lay claim to, appropriate”) (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 sāgiō (“to perceive acutely”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)