Where does “seize” come from?
Seize comes from Middle English seisen, from Frankish sakjan, from Proto-Germanic sakjaną, meaning to put in possession of or claim.
seize (English): To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture;...
Definitions
- To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture;...
Ancestry of “seize”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | seise | To vest ownership of a freehold estate in; To put... |
| 2 | Middle English | seisen | To kidnap, abduct, or take captive; To grasp or... |
| 3 | Old French | seisir | to grip; to seize |
| 4 | Latin | sacīre | — |
| 5 | Frankish | sakjan | to sue, bring a legal charge against; to sue,... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | sakjaną | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | sakaną | to charge, dispute |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | sh₂g- | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | seh₂g- | to seek out |