Etymologically
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saisir

Etymology and origin of the French word saisir

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Confidence
Probable
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1100, Chanson de Roland
Borrowed from
Old High German *sazjan
Ultimate origin
Old High German (*sazjan)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /sɛ.ziʁ/[1]
  • IPA: /se.ziʁ/[1]

Forms

saisir[1] Old French saisir, seisir.[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old High German *sazjan (“to set, establish”), according to the TLFi, the FEW and Bloch and Wartburg; the word is found about 700 in the Latin of the Germanic law codes as Medieval Latin sacīre (“to take possession”) (“ad proprium sacire”).[2][3][4] The original sense was probably “to put someone in possession of something”, a term of feudal law; compare Middle High German setzen “to assign someone a property”.[2][4] Bloch and Wartburg think it entered Gallo-Romance late (about 800), through Old High German, from Frankish *satjan, since a Frankish “*satjan” taken earlier would have given “*saïr”, as “*hatjan” gave haïr.[5][4] An older derivation from Frankish *sakjan (“to claim a right”), still given by Wiktionary, explains the sense badly.[5][1] Pierre Guiraud instead proposed a Latin origin, a form *satiiō of Latin satiō (“to satisfy”).[5]

Italian sagire is borrowed from Gallo-Romance, like other feudal terms; English seize comes from the Old French verb.[5][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Chanson de Roland (about 1100) already has several senses: saisir qqn de qqch. “to put someone in possession of something”, “to grab with the hand” and “to take by force (a fortress)”.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The feudal sense survives in the legal maxim le mort saisit le vif (1270), “the heir is invested at once with the dead man's goods”.[2][5] The sense “to take hold of” prevailed from the 15th century: saisir au corps “to arrest” (1466), se saisir de (1534).[2][5] About 1200 the Châtelain de Coucy uses it of an emotion that seizes the mind.[2] In law it meant to seize goods by distraint (1495), later to confiscate.[2][5]

Mental senses followed: to perceive (Montaigne, 1580), to seize an opportunity (Racine, 1673), to grasp, understand (Académie, 1694; used absolutely, 1923).[2] Cookery uses it for searing food over a high flame (1832), and computing for keying in data (1972).[2]

Timeline

  • c. 1100 – “To put in possession” and “to grab”, Chanson de Roland.[2]
  • c. 1200 – An emotion saisit someone, Châtelain de Coucy.[2]
  • 1270 – Le mort saisit le vif.[2]
  • 1495 – To seize goods by legal process.[2]
  • 1673 – To seize an opportunity, Racine.[2]
  • 1694 – To grasp mentally, Académie.[2]
  • 1832 – To sear (cooking).[2]
  • 1972 – To key in (computing).[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To seize, grab, take hold of quickly or forcefully: saisir une branche, saisir la balle au bond.[6][1]
  2. To capture, take (someone) by force; to take hold of.[6][2]
  3. To seize (an opportunity, a pretext).[2][7]
  4. To grasp, understand: je ne saisis pas.[1][2]
  5. Of a feeling or sensation: to take hold of (someone) suddenly: saisi de peur, le froid le saisit.[2][6]
  6. (law) To seize, confiscate (goods); to refer (a matter) to a court: saisir la justice.[1][2]
  7. (cooking) To sear over a high heat.[2]
  8. (computing) To key in, enter (data).[1][2]

Word family

  • saisie
  • saisine
  • saisissable
  • saisissant
  • saisissement
  • dessaisir
  • insaisissable
  • ressaisir
  • English seize

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 17, 19b
  4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse

Related etymologies

  • hutte · also from Old High German
Cite this entry

“Saisir.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/saisir. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·