seize

Where does the word "seize" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin sacire, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Seize’s story begins in Medieval Latin: sacire meant “to claim, lay hold of.” A Frankish legal term latinized in Merovingian law. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as seisir. Feudal law: to put someone in possession of land. It reached English by 1200s as seize. The engine sense, 'to jam', dates from the 1900s. Today, seize means to take hold of suddenly and forcibly.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval sacire "to claim, lay hold of", a Frankish legal term latinized in Merovingian law.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval seisir "to take possession", feudal law: to put someone in possession of land.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s seize "to take possession", the engine sense, 'to jam', dates from the 1900s.