Seize

Seize - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

SEIZE, v.t.

1. To fall or rush upon suddenly and lay hold on; or to gripe or grasp suddenly. The tiger rushes from the thicket and seizes his prey. A dog seizes an animal by the throat. The hawk seizes a chicken with his claws. The officer seizes a theif.

2. To take possession by force, with or without right.

At last they seize The scepter, and regard not David's son. Milton.

3. To invade suddenly; to take hold of; to come upon suddenly; as, a fever seizes a patient

And hope and doubt alternate seize her soul. Pope.

4. To take possession by virtue of a warrant or legal authority. The sherif seized the debtor's goods; the whole estate was seized and cofiscated. We say, to arrest a person, to seize goods.

5. To fasten; to fix. In seaman's language, to fasten two ropes or different parts oof one rope together with a cord.

To be seized of, to have possession; as a griffin seized of his prey. A B was seized and possessed of the manor of Dale.

To seize on or upon, is to fall on and grasp; to take hold on; to take possession.

Definition

The term “seize” means to take or capture someone or something by force. It can also mean to overpower and control someone.

• When a city was taken by means of military force, the soldiers would seize the valuable property of the people they had conquered.
• When used figuratively, a person can be described as being “seized with fear.” This means that the person was suddenly “overcome by fear.” If a person was “seized with fear” it could also be stated that the person “suddenly became very afraid.”
• In the context of labor pains that “seize” a woman, the meaning is that the pains are sudden and overpowering. This could be translated by saying that the pains “overcome” or “suddenly come upon” the woman.
• This term could also be translated as “take control of” or “suddenly take” or “grab.”
• The expression “seized and slept with her” could be translated as “forced himself on her” or “violated her” or “raped her.” Make sure the translation of this concept is acceptable.

(See: euphemism)

Bible References

• Acts 16:19-21
• Exodus 15:14
• John 10:37-39
• Luke 8:29
• Matthew 26:48

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0270, H1497, H2388, H3027, H3920, H3947, H4672, H5377, H5860, H6031, H7760, H8610, G07240, G19490, G26380, G29020, G29830, G48150, G48840