besiege
verb/bəˈsiːd͡ʒ/
Etymology From Middle English besegen, bisegen, equivalent to be- (“around, about”) + siege.
1
To beset or surround with armed forces for the purpose of compelling to surrender, to lay siege to, beleaguer.
2
Figuratively To beleaguer, to vex, to lay siege to, to beset.
- When it arrived, the train was headed by a "K" class 4-6-0 wood-burning locomotive, and a water-tank wagon next to the tender was immediately besieged by women and girls, clad in their picturesque national costume, all with empty kerosene tins for water, a scene which was re-enacted at each stop down the line.1943 November and December, G. T. Porter, “The Lines Behind the Lines in Burma”, in Railway Magazine, page 325:
- They should have inflicted a much heavier loss on their besieged opponents, the highlight being a late goal for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins on debut after he came on as a substitute.2021 March 25, Phil McNulty, “England 5-0 San Marino”, in BBC Sport:
3
To assail or ply, as with requests or demands.
- The box office was besieged by fans wanting tickets.
- Derived terms
- besiegement, besieger, besiegingly, rebesiege, unbesieged