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siege definition

siege (sēj)

noun

  1. the encirclement of a fortified place by an opposing armed force intending to take it, usually by blockade and bombardment
  2. any persistent attempt to gain control, overcome opposition, etc.
  3. ☆ a long, distressing or wearying period a siege of illness

  4. Etymology: ME sege < OFr < VL *sedicum < *sedicare, to set < L sedere, to sit

    Obsolete a seat; throne

Etymology: ME sege < OFr siege, aphetic < *assiege < VL *absedium, for L obsidium, siege, blockade, ambush < obsidere, to besiege < ob-, against + sedere, to sit

transitive verb sieged, sieging sieg′·ing

besiege
siege Idioms

lay siege to

to subject to a siege; attempt to win, gain, overcome, etc.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

siege Synonyms

siege

n.

offense, onslaught, assault; see attack 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

siege Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • castle: An event to mark the anniversary of the siege of the castle, which brought about the Battle of Winceby on 11 October 1643.

Converse of object

  • lay: Greeks, you remember, laid siege to the city of Troy for over ten years.

Adjective modifier

  • protracted: As the morning wore on and the likelihood of a protracted siege became obvious, an appeal for reinforcements was made to the military.

Modifies a noun

  • mentality: The Blue Falcon Inn showed the signs of the siege mentality that existed in the village.
siege usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

siege quotes

I am really persuaded that if we were to inquire of all the Cities which†have fallen by Siege into the Power of new Masters, who it was that subjected and overcame them, they would tell you, the Architect; and that they were strong enough to have despised the armed Enemy, but not to withstand the Shocks of the Engines, the Violence of the Machines and the Force of other Instruments of War with whichthe Architect, distressed, demolished and ruinated them.On the contrary, they would inform you that their greatest Defense lay in the Art and Assistance of the Architect.

-Alberti, Leon Battista

It is as if Homer not only chronicled the siege of Troy, but conducted the siege as well. As if Shakespeare set his play writing aside to lead the English against the Armada.

-Cuomo, Mario Matthew

siege quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"siege." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/siege>

APA Style

siege. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/siege

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