seize English · revision 39596

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1290, South English Legendary|origins=la-med saciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈsiːz/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|saisen]], [[m|enm|seisen]],^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966)^(Barnhart 1995) [[bor|fro|seisir]] (later [[m|fro|saisir]], as in modern French), which meant to put someone in possession of something, to take possession of something, and to take hold of it;^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) in Anglo-Norman it is recorded from 1121–25.^(AND) The French verb continues [[la-med|saciō]], recorded from the 8th century in the Frankish kingdoms in phrases meaning "to take into one's own possession".^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)^(ODE 2010)^(Dictionary.com 2016) That verb is generally held to be Germanic, but the exact source is uncertain.^(Etymonline) Etymonline and Barnhart suggest [[frk|*sakjan|t=to lay claim to]], related to [[m|got|𐍃𐍉𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=sōkjan]] and to [[seek]];^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) Merriam-Webster, Collins and Weekley derive it from a Germanic verb meaning "to set", akin to [[m|got|𐍃𐌰𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=satjan]] and to [[set]];^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023)^(Weekley 1921) and Klein thinks it is probably a blend of the two.^(Klein 1966) The Shorter Oxford and the Oxford Dictionary of English speak of a Germanic base meaning "procedure", which Cresswell connects with [[sake]].^(SOED 2002)^(ODE 2010)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In law, to put a person in legal possession of a feudal holding, and, of a lord or sovereign, to take possession of a vassal's property: both c. 1290, in the life of Thomas Becket in the ''South English Legendary''.^(OED 2026) Barnhart dates the form ''saisen'', "take possession of", to 1265, and Etymonline gives the mid-13th century.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb began as a legal term of feudal law, about property holdings and offices.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) That use survives in law, usually spelt ''seise'': a person ''seised of'' land holds it in law.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) From the idea of taking possession came the everyday senses: to grip with the hands or teeth from about 1300, and to capture a city or seize power by force from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) From the late 14th century death, disease and fear were said to seize people,^(Etymonline) while officers seized goods by warrant and arrested people from the late 15th century.^(SOED 2002) Johnson (1755) defined it as to take possession of, to grasp, to lay hold on.^(Johnson 1755) A nautical sense, to lash ropes together with cord, appears in the 17th century,^(Hoad 1986) and Weekley thought it came through Dutch.^(Weekley 1921) The mental sense, to grasp an idea quickly, is attested from 1855,^(Etymonline) and of machinery, to jam or lock fast, by 1878;^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) a noun ''seize'' for such a seizing-up dates from 1912.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1265 – ''saisen'', to take possession of.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1290 – to put someone in legal possession of a feudal holding; to confiscate a vassal's property.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1300 – to grip with the hands or teeth.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – to capture by force.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – of death, disease or fear, to come upon suddenly.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – to confiscate by warrant; to arrest.^(SOED 2002)

+ * 17th century – (nautical) to lash with cord.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1855 – to grasp with the mind.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1878 – of machinery, to jam.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1912 – noun, an instance of seizing up.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To take hold of something suddenly and firmly; to [[grab]] or [[clutch]].^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To take possession of a place, power or property by force; to [[capture]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Of the police or other officials, to take goods into legal [[custody]]; to [[confiscate]]; also, to arrest a person.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To take eager and immediate advantage of a chance or an opportunity: ''She seized the moment to ask for a raise.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Of a feeling, an illness or an idea, to affect someone suddenly and strongly: ''Panic seized the passengers.''^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To understand an idea quickly and clearly.^(Collins 2023)^(Etymonline)

+ # Of an engine or other mechanism, to [[jam]] or stick fast, usually ''seize up''.^(Collins 2023)^(Etymonline)

+ # (law; usually spelt ''seise'') To put someone in legal possession of land or property.^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+ # (nautical) To lash or bind with turns of cord.^(Hoad 1986)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[seizable]]

+ * [[seizer]]

+ * [[disseize]]

+ * [[reseize]]

+ * [[unseized]]

+ * [[seizor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[seizure]]

+ * [[seisin]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Yorkshire, Lancashire and Lincolnshire dialect ''to seize the heart'' meant to affect someone greatly, and ''seize-noddy'' was a card game.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}