seizure
UK: ˈsiːʒə | US: ˈsiːʒər
n. 1. The act of forcibly taking possession of something.
n. 2. A sudden attack of illness, especially a stroke or epileptic fit.
n. 3. (Law) The action of taking property or assets by legal authority.
seizure = seiz<take> + ure<noun suffix>
- seiz<take>: Derived from Old French saisir ("to take possession"), from Late Latin sacīre ("to claim"). Originally related to legal possession.
- ure<noun suffix>: A suffix forming abstract nouns denoting action or result (e.g., closure, exposure).
Etymology Origin:
The word seizure traces back to medieval legal terminology, where seiz (from Old French saisir) implied taking hold of property or rights. Over time, it expanded to medical contexts (e.g., "seizure" as a sudden bodily takeover) and general usage for abrupt actions. The suffix -ure systematized it as a noun for outcomes or processes.
The police ordered the seizure of illegal goods.
He suffered an epileptic seizure during the meeting.
The court approved the asset seizure due to unpaid taxes.
A sudden seizure of panic left her unable to speak.
Historical records describe the seizure of land by conquerors.