Besiege definition

bĭ-sēj
besieged besieges besieging
See word origin
Frequency:
To overwhelm, harass, or beset.

Besieged with queries.

verb
2
0
To harass or overwhelm, as with requests.

A shop owner besieged by job applications.

verb
3
2
The definition of besiege is to surround, crowd around or overwhelm.

When you storm a castle with armed forces and surround the castle, this is an example of a time when you besiege.

When you harass and bombard someone with questions, this is an example of a time when you besiege.

verb
1
0
To beset or surround with armed forces for the purpose of compelling to surrender, to lay siege to, beleaguer.
verb
1
0
(figuratively) To beleaguer, lay siege to, beset.
verb
1
0
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To assail or ply, as with requests or demands.
verb
1
0
To hem in with armed forces, esp. for a sustained attack; lay siege to.
verb
3
3
To surround with hostile forces.

The soldiers besieged the walled city.

verb
1
1
To crowd around; hem in.

Fans besieged the star as she came out of the hotel.

verb
1
1
To close in on; crowd around.
verb
0
1
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Origin of besiege

  • Middle English besegen probably alteration of assegen from Old French assegier from Vulgar Latin assedicāre Latin ad- ad- Vulgar Latin sedicāre to sit siege

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Besiege Sentence Examples

  • His first action was to besiege Ptolemais.

  • By constructing an entrenched camp at Ulm and concentrating all the available food within it, he expected to compel Napoleon to invest and besiege him, and he anticipated that in the devastated country his adversary would be compelled to separate and thus fall an easy prey to the Russians.

  • At the end of 1155 Greek troops recovered Bari and began to besiege Brindisi.

  • Baldwin along with Dandolo, the count of Blois, and Marshal Villehardouin, the historian, marched to besiege that city.

  • An attempt made by the latter in the summer to besiege Maastricht was frustrated by Marshal Schomberg with a detachment of the king's army (August).

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