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"
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"
affect
"Fear seized the prisoners"
"The patient was seized with unbearable pains"
"He was seized with a dreadful disease"
To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture.
"The security guard had to seize the suspect's arm to prevent him from escaping the room."
The word "seize" comes from the Old French verb seisir, which originally meant to take possession of something. This French term was borrowed from Early Medieval Latin, where it referred to laying claim to or appropriating property.