[
re, saizre, seisre, sesre, re.]
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seisen (v.) Also seise, seize, saise, sese(n, sesse, sesi(e, seas(s)e, (chiefly early) seisi, saisi & ces(s)e; p. seised(e, etc. & sezed, seasod, ceased; ppl. seised, etc. & iseis(e)d, isesed, seisit.
[
OF saisir, seisir, ses(s)ir &ML saisAL seiz
1a.
(a) To take possession; take possession of (a country, city, land, goods, etc.); seize (sth.) by force; capture (sth.); also fig.; also, take legal possession of (sth.), confiscate; ~ on, usurp (sth.), establish oneself on; ~ to, appropriate (sth.) to (sb.), take possession of (sth.) on behalf of (sb.); (b) ~ in (in-to, on) honde, ~ in-til honde(s, to seize (sth.), capture; bring (sth.) under the control (of sb.); confiscate (sth.).
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1b.
(a) To take hold of (sth.) with the hand(s, grab, seize; take (sth.); also fig.; ~ him bi bridel (sadel), hold someone's bridle (saddle); (b) to seize (sb., an animal, a bird), grab, take hold of; also fig.; capture (sb.), arrest; catch (an animal, a fish), capture; also, abduct (sb.) [last quot.]; (c) naut. ~ up seiles, to pull up sails; (d) fig. to defeat or overcome (sb. in a debate).
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2a.
(a) To endow (sb.), enfeoff; put (sb.) in legal or formal possession (of a kingdom, land, feudal estate, goods, etc.); give (sb.) possession (of sth.), endow (sb. with sth.); -- also refl. [quot.: ?a1425, 2nd]; of God: give (sb.) possession (of sth. or sb.); also fig.; ~ in (in-to, mid, of, with), ~ ther-in (ther-with); (b) to grant (sth. or sb. to sb., sth. to a church), give possession of, yield; put (sth. in someone's possession); -- also without obj.; ~ in-to (in) honde; ~ in-to the warde of, place (sb.) in the care of (sb.).
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2b.
In passive constructions: (a) of persons: ben seised in (of, with), to be put in legal or actual possession of (sth.); also, be given the right to (sth.); also fig.; -- sometimes with a person as the obj. of the prep. [quots.: c1425, Nassyngton]; ben seised (in his demeine, be put in possession as actual occupant; also, be put in possession by God [quot.: PPl.C]; ben seised (as) of fre-hold, be put in possession of a freehold [cp. fre-hold n.(a)]; (b) of land, possessions, rent, etc.: ben seised (to, unto, to be put into the legal or actual possession of (sb., a town); ben seised in-to honde (hondes, in honde).
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2c.
Ppl. seised, in legal possession; also, in possession by virtue of military power [quot.: ?a1450]; also, having been put in possession by God [quot.: c1400]; dien (as) seised.
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3.
(a) To place (sth.), arrange; also, fig. & refl. place oneself (in pride), puff oneself up; -- ?error for reisen v.5.(c); (b) fig. to join (two persons together) in a contract [cp. feffen v.3.]; (c) ~ out, ?to stretch, extend.
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