take hold of; grab; The sales clerk quickly seized the money on the counter; She clutched her purse; The mother seized her child by the arm; Birds of prey often seize small mammals
take or capture by force; The terrorists seized the politicians; The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages'
take possession of by force, as after an invasion; the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants; The army seized the town; The militia captured the castle
[ Syn: appropriate , capture , conquer ]
take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority; The FBI seized the drugs; The customs agents impounded the illegal shipment; The police confiscated the stolen artwork
[ Syn: impound , attach , sequester , confiscate ]
seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as ones right or possession; He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town; he usurped my rights; She seized control of the throne after her husband died
hook by a pull on the line; strike a fish'
affect; Fear seized the prisoners; The patient was seized with unbearable pains; He was seized with a dreadful disease
[ Syn: clutch , get hold of ]
capture the attention or imagination of; This story will grab you; The movie seized my imagination
[ Syn: grab ]