SEIZE,

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.