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To take possession of by virtue of a warrant or other legal authority; as, the sheriff seized the debtor's goods.

States to transact the general public business of the town, and have a kind of executive authority. The number is usually from three to seven in each town. The system of delegated town action was then, perhaps, the same which was defined in an "order made in 1635 by the inhabitants of Charlestown at a full meeting for…

Assumed by one's own act, or without authority.

Half official; having some official authority or importance; as, a semiofficial statement. -- Sem`i*of*fi"cial*ly, adv.

appointed or elected from among the nobles of the nation, and having supreme legislative authority. The senate was thus the medium through which all affairs of the whole government had to pass. Dr. W. Smith.

To exercise authority; to rule; to lord it. [R.] Fairfax.

The office or authority of a seraskier.

To unite, as two pieces of metal by welding. (f) To cause to become silent by authority, argument, or force.

by the space of forty days, for the laying him up in prison till he submit himself to the authority of the church. Crabb.

A man of social authority and dignity; a lord; a master; a gentleman; -- in this sense usually spelled sire. [Obs.] He was crowned lord and sire. Gower. In the election of a sir so rare. Shak.

The government; the supreme authority of the state. [India]

A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [Obs.] Pain and distress, sickness and ire, And melancholy that angry sire, Be of her palace senators. Rom. of R.

The actual presence or meeting of any body of men in their seats, clothed with authority to transact business; a session; as, a sitting of the judges of the King's Bench, or of a commission. The sitting closed in great agitation. Macaulay.

Independent of, and unlimited by, any other; possessing, or entitled to, original authority or jurisdiction; as, a sovereign state; a sovereign discretion.

To exercise supreme authority. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.

spirits. God's law is spiritual; it is a transcript of the divine nature, and extends its authority to the acts of the soul of man. Sir T. Browne.

by an agent not specially authorized for the purpose, or by one who exceeds the limits of authority.

A pole, stick, or wand borne as an ensign of authority; a badge of office; as, a constable's staff. Methought this staff, mine office badge in court, Was broke in twain. Shak. All his officers brake their staves; but at their return new staves were delivered unto them. Hayward.

or reputation, good or bad, fixed on anything as if by an imprinted mark; current value; authority; as, these persons have the stamp of dishonesty; the Scriptures bear the stamp of a divine origin. Of the same stamp is that which is obtruded on us, that an adamant suspends the attraction of the loadstone. Sir T. Brown…

That which is established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, extent, value, or quality; esp., the original specimen weight or measure sanctioned by government, as the standard pound, gallon, or yard.