seize

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

v. t. grasp, clutch; capture, arrest, appropriate, confiscate; afflict; attach, distrain; comprehend, understand. See stealing, intelligence, acquisition.

II

(Roget's IV) v.

1. [To grasp]

Syn. take, take hold of, lay hold of, lay hands on, catch up, catch hold of, hang on, hang onto, catch, grip, clinch, clench, clasp, embrace, compass, grab, clutch, grapple, snag, pluck, appropriate, snatch, swoop up, enfold, enclose, pinch, squeeze, make fast, hold fast, possess oneself of, envelope.

Ant. leave*, pass by, let alone.

2. [To take by force]

Syn. capture, rape, occupy, win, take, take captive, pounce, conquer, take by storm, take by assault, subdue, overwhelm, overrun, overpower, ambush, snatch, incorporate, exact, extend protection to, retake, carry off, apprehend, arrogate, arrest, secure, commandeer, force, gain, take, recapture, appropriate, take possession of, confiscate, take over, pounce on, usurp, overcome, impound, intercept, steal, purloin, expropriate, abduct, seize upon, snap up, nab, trap, throttle, lay hold of, lift, snap up, hook, collar, fasten upon, wrench, claw, snare, bag, catch up, jerk, freeze onto, batten on, wring, cull, get one's clutches on*, get one's fingers on*, get one's hands on, hijack, skyjack*, carjack*, kiDNAp, rustle, stick up*, hold up, swipe, clap hands on, scramble for, help oneself to, jump a claim.

3. [To comprehend]

Syn. perceive, see, know; see understand 1 .

to seize is to get hold of or get control of suddenly and forcibly [ he seized the gun from the robber; to seize power ] ; take is the general word meaning to get hold of by or as by the hands [ to take a book, the opportunity, etc. ] ; grasp implies holding firmly [ to grasp a rope, an idea, etc. ] ; clutch implies a tight or convulsive grasping of that which one is eager to take or keep hold of [ she clutched his hand in terror ] ; grab implies a roughness or unscrupulousness in seizing [ the child grabbed all the candy; to grab credit ] ; snatch stresses an abrupt quickness and, sometimes, a surreptitiousness in seizing [ she snatched the letter from my hand; to snatch a purse ]

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) v.

1. grab take, snatch, grasp, grip, clasp, pluck, catch, embrace, *jump on.

2. confiscate capture, apprehend, arrest, *nail, *collar, *nab, commandeer, impound, take by force, appropriate, usurp, kidnap, hijack.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) verb 1. To take firmly with the hand and maintain a hold on: clasp, clench, clutch1, grab, grapple, grasp, grip. See KEEP. 2. To get hold of (something moving): catch, clutch1, grab, snatch. Informal: nab. Idiom: lay hands on. See GET. 3. To lay claim to for oneself or as one's right: appropriate, arrogate, assume, commandeer, preempt, take, usurp. See GIVE. 4. To have a sudden overwhelming effect on: catch, strike, take. See ATTACK, OVER. 5. To take into custody as a prisoner: apprehend, arrest. Informal: nab, pick up. Slang: bust, collar, pinch, run in. See LAW. 6. To take quick and forcible possession of: commandeer, confiscate, expropriate, grab, snatch. Idiom: help oneself to. See GIVE.