English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English seisen, from Old French seisir (to put in possession of", "to take possession of), from Early Medieval Latin sacīre, from Frankish *sakjan (to sue, bring a legal charge against), from Proto-Germanic *sakōną (to charge, seek legal action against), from Proto-Indo-European *seh₂g- (to track). Cognate with Old High German sahhan (to argue, scold), Old English sacian (to strive, contend). More at sake.

Verb edit

seise (third-person singular simple present seises, present participle seising, simple past and past participle seised)

  1. (transitive, law) To vest ownership of an estate in land (to someone).
    • 1997, Nigel Saul, The Oxford illustrated history of medieval England, page 74:
      There a baron was created and seised by the king in a single act. His tenure was a function of his personal relationship with his lord king.
  2. (transitive, law, with of) To put in possession.
    • 1878, Joshua Williams, The Seisin of the Freehold, page 55:
      He then died intestate; and I observed that his heir-at-law was not actually seised of Whiteacre, the possession of which became vacant on his ancestor's death
    • 2011, Article 3 section 7, Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011, Official Journal of the European Union L 55/15
      Where the appeal committee is seised, it shall meet at the earliest 14 days, except in duly justified cases, and at the latest 6 weeks, after the date of referral.
  3. (archaic) To seize.
  This entry needs quotations to illustrate usage. If you come across any interesting, durably archived quotes then please add them!
Particularly: “When did this go out of date as a spelling of seize?”

Usage notes edit

  • Usually used in passive.

Synonyms edit

  • ((with of) to put in possession): possess

Anagrams edit

Irish edit

Etymology edit

From Middle Irish *seise, from Old Norse sessi.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

seise m (genitive singular seise, nominative plural seisí)

  1. companion, comrade

Declension edit

Mutation edit

Irish mutation
Radical Lenition Eclipsis
seise sheise
after an, tseise
not applicable
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Middle English edit

Verb edit

seise

  1. Alternative form of seisen