English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From seize +‎ -ure.

Pronunciation

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IPA(key): /ˈsizjʊɚ/

Noun

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seizure (countable and uncountable, plural seizures)

  1. The act of taking possession, as by force or right of law.
    the seizure of a thief, a property, a throne, etc.
    The search warrant permitted the seizure of evidence.
    • 1874, Marcus Clarke, chapter VII, in For the Term of His Natural Life:
      As yet there had been no alarm of fever. The three seizures had excited some comment, however, and had it not been for the counter-excitement of the burning ship, it is possible that Pine's precaution would have been thrown away
  2. A sudden attack or convulsion, (e.g. an epileptic seizure).
    He fell to the floor and convulsed when the epileptic seizure occurred.
  3. A sudden onset of pain or emotion.
    He felt the sudden seizure of pain as the heart attack began.
  4. That which is seized, or taken possession of; a thing laid hold of, or possessed.
  5. (obsolete) Retention within one's grasp or power; possession; ownership.
    • 1690, [John] Dryden, Don Sebastian, King of Portugal: [], London: [] Jo. Hindmarsh, [], →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
      Make o'er thy honour by a deed of trust, / And give me seizure of the mighty wealth.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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seizure (third-person singular simple present seizures, present participle seizuring, simple past and past participle seizured)

  1. To undergo an epileptic seizure.
    • 2019, Justin Blackburn, The Bisexual Christian Suburban Failure Enlightening Bipolar Blues, page 9:
      My doctor prescribed Namility. It made my vision blurry, I told him. He said keep taking it, it'll stop. Next day at work I seizured in the middle of an order.

Synonyms

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References

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