Search the Dictionary

To put in possession again; to reinstate. And then therein [in his kingdom] reseized was again. Spenser.

The act of resigning or giving up, as a claim, possession, office, or the like; surrender; as, the resignation of a crown or comission.

To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to retrain from departure, escape, or the like. "Thy shape invisibleretain." Shak. Be obedient, and retain Unalterably firm his love entire. Milton. An executor may retain a debt due to him from the testator. Blackstone.…

structed within another, to prolong the defense of the position when the enemy has gained possession of the outer work; or to protect the defenders till they can retreat or obtain terms for a capitulation.

To revert; to pass back into possession. And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David. 1Kings xii. 26.

ence, the residue of an estate left in the proprietor or owner thereof, to take effect in possession, by operation of law, after the termination of a limited or less estate carved out of it and conveyed by him. Kent.

To vest again with possession or office; as, to revest a magistrate with authority.

Having an abundance of material possessions; possessed of a large amount of property; well supplied with land, goods, or money; wealthy; opulent; affluent; -- opposed to Ant: poor. "Rich merchants." Chaucer. The rich [person] hath many friends. Prov. xiv. 20. As a thief, bent to unhoard the cash Of some rich burgher. M…

patriarchal theory of government, especially to the doctrine that no misconduct and no dispossession can forfeit the right of a monarch or his heirs to the throne, and to the obedience of the people. -- To rights. (a) In a direct line; straight. [R.] Woodward. (b) At once; directly. [Obs. or Colloq.] Swift. -- To set…

harm, or loss; safety; security; as the safeness of an experiment, of a journey, or of a possession.

t of satisfying, or the state of being satisfied; gratification of desire; contentment in possession and enjoyment; repose of mind resulting from compliance with its desires or demands. The mind having a power to suspend the execution and satisfaction of any of its desires. Locke.

To hold possession or use of; to escape loss of. Just saving the tide, and putting in a stock of merit. Swift. To save appearance, to preserve a decent outside; to avoid exposure of a discreditable state of things.

nversion from regular or monastic to secular; conversion from religious to lay or secular possession and uses; as, the secularization of church property.

A right of inheritance belonging to a second son; a property or possession so inherited. The kingdom of Naples . . . was constituted a secundo-geniture of Spain. Bancroft.

To get possession of; to make one's self secure of; to acquire certainly; as, to secure an estate. Secure arms (Mil.), a command and a position in the manual of arms, used in wet weather, the object being to guard the firearm from becoming wet. The piece is turned with the barrel to the front and grasped by the right h…

To take possession of by force. At last they seize The scepter, and regard not David's sons. Milton.

Possession; possession of an estate of froehold. It may be either in deed or in law; the former when there is actual possession, the latter when there is a right to such possession by construction of law. In some of the United States seizin means merely ownership. Burrill.

One who seizes, or takes possession.

f seizing, or the state of being seized; sudden and violent grasp or gripe; a taking into possession; as, the seizure of a thief, a property, a throne, etc.

separate from the owner for a time; to take from parties in controversy and put into the possession of an indifferent person; to seize or take possession of, as property belonging to another, and hold it till the profits have paid the demand for which it is taken, or till the owner has performed the decree of court, o…