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.
- To seize a ship after libeling.
To have a sudden and powerful effect upon.
- A panic seized the crowd.
- A fever seized him.
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.
To fasten, fix.
To lay hold in seizure, by hands or claws (+ on or upon).
- To seize on the neck of a horse.
- The text which had seized upon his heart with such comfort and strength abode upon him for more than a year. (Southey, Bunyan, p. 21).
To have a seizure.
To bind or lock in position immovably; see also seize up.
- Rust caused the engine to seize, never to run again.