Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (v. t.) To take or grasp suddenly; to reach and grasp.

2. (v. t.) To take possession of by force.

3. (v. t.) To invade suddenly; to take sudden hold of; to come upon suddenly; as, a fever seizes a patient.

4. (v. t.) To take possession of by virtue of a warrant or other legal authority; as, the sheriff seized the debtor's goods.

5. (v. t.) To fasten; to fix.

6. (v. t.) To grasp with the mind; to comprehend fully and distinctly; as, to seize an idea.

7. (v. t.) To bind or fasten together with a lashing of small stuff, as yarn or marline; as, to seize ropes.