beleaguer
[bih-lee-ger]
- to surround with military forces.
- to surround or beset, as with troubles.
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Origin of beleaguer
Synonyms
See more synonyms for beleaguer on Thesaurus.com2. harass, pester, badger, bother, vex, annoy, plague, hector.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for beleaguered
Contemporary Examples
Lohse and his beleaguered fellow pledges were, he claims, forced to chug vinegar and to dine on the dreaded “vomlet.”
Outgunned and beleaguered, he says, Iraqi army units in Anbar are beginning to collapse.
Having finally re-joined the main body of the Ukrainian forces, the beleaguered defenders of Sector D were evacuated.
Ukrainian Troops Retreat From Russian Border, Leaving 100 Kilometers Open to InvasionPierre Vaux
August 12, 2014
Taken together, it gives them a huge tactical advantage over the beleaguered Ukrainian armed forces.
And here is where the beleaguered administration may catch a break from this hostile court.
Obama Will Lose Recess Appointment Case, but Will Other Presidents Lose Their Power?Andrew Cohen
January 14, 2014
Historical Examples
Then first, not when alone in the beleaguered city, he knew desolation.
Heather and SnowGeorge MacDonald
Thus the sun set on Rome beleaguered, the barbarians outside the City.
Theodoric the GothThomas Hodgkin
In 1279 the last stronghold of the Sungs was beleaguered by land and sea.
The Civilization Of ChinaHerbert A. Giles
His impression that first afternoon had been true—she was beleaguered, if not lost.
The Tyranny of the DarkHamlin Garland
Not a man of them was known to any member of the beleaguered garrison.
The Dop DoctorClotilde Inez Mary Graves
beleaguer
- to trouble persistently; harass
- to lay siege to
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Word Origin
C16: from be- + leaguer 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for beleaguered
beleaguer
v.
1580s, from Dutch or Low German belegeren "to besiege," from be- "around" (see be-) + legeren "to camp," from leger "bed, camp, army, lair," from Proto-Germanic *leg-raz-, from PIE *legh-to- "lie" (see lie (v.2)). A word from the Flemish Wars (cf. Swedish belägra, Dutch belegeren "besiege," German Belagerung "siege"). Spelling influenced by league. Related: Beleaguered; beleaguering.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper