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 ]

☞ 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 ]

n. One who, or that which, seizes. [ 1913 Webster ]