Seas, sees and seize are three words that are pronounced the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings. They are homophones. We will look at the difference in meaning between seas, sees and seize, where the words come from and some examples of their use in sentences.
Seas refers to the oceans that cover the earth, the mass of salt water that surrounds the land masses. Geographically, the term sea refers to smaller salt water areas where the land meets the ocean, seas are usually partly surround by land. The word sea is also used metaphorically to describe a vast expanse. Seas is the plural of sea, it comes from the Old English word sæ, meaning a sea, pool or lake.
Sees is the third person singular form of the verb see, which means 1.) to perceive with the eyes 2.) to perceive an idea 3.) to witness something 4.) to perceive something in a certain fashion 5.) to profess understanding 6.) to date someone 7.) to escort someone to a specific place. Related words are saw, seen, seeing. The word see is derived from the Old English word seon which means to look, to see, to perceive, to observe. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, see is one of the top one thousand most frequently used words in the English language.
Seize means 1.) to take hold of something quickly and with force 2.) to take hold of an opportunity with enthusiasm 3.) to understand a concept or a situation quickly 4.) to take custody of something through legal means 5.) the jamming of piece of machinery with moving parts. Seize is a verb, related words are seizes, seized, seizing, seizure. The word seize is derived from Old French word seisir which means to take by force, to bestow upon. Seize is sometimes seen with the spelling seise, but this is an archaic form of the word.
Examples
Competition watchdog sees concerns with MasterCard’s VocaLink deal (Reuters)
When it is your first cruise on the high seas your expectations are high, but as Natalie Woods learned expectations can be swept away like sand in the ebb and flow of a six-foot wave. (First Coast News)
KOCHI: The court on Tuesday initiated revenue recovery proceedings to seize the vehicles of the Corporation Mayor and Deputy Mayor, in connection with a land acquisition case. (The New Indian Express)