besiege

[bih-seej]

verb (used with object), be·sieged, be·sieg·ing.

to lay siege to.

to crowd around; crowd in upon; surround: Vacationers besieged the travel office.

to assail or ply, as with requests or demands.

Origin of besiege

First recorded in 1250–1300, besiege is from the Middle English word bysegen. See be-, siege

Related formsbe·siege·ment, nounbe·sieg·er, nounbe·sieg·ing·ly, adverbun·be·sieged, adjective

Synonyms for besiege

3. beset, pester, harass, harry, hound.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for besiegers

Contemporary Examples of besiegers

"Since I have the choice, I prefer to opt for the latter struggle," he is reported to have told his besiegers.
French Terrorist Mohamed Merah’s Last Words Taped by Cops Now Leaked on TV
Tracy McNicoll
July 9, 2012

Historical Examples of besiegers

But this cannot be, for he says expressly that he was one of the besiegers.
Bunyan
James Anthony Froude
If he were once in command of that knoll, the besiegers at its foot would be forced to retire.
Hellenica
Xenophon
If a gun was fired from the Alamo, one of the besiegers was sure to fall.
Aztec Land
Maturin M. Ballou
The besiegers were gathering; the world was watching, expectant of the grimmer struggle.
The Long Roll
Mary Johnston
The French artillery was very powerful and, at times, overpowered that of the besiegers.
Under Wellington's Command
G. A. Henty

British Dictionary definitions for besiegers

besiege

verb (tr)

to surround (a fortified area, esp a city) with military forces to bring about its surrender

to crowd round; hem in

to overwhelm, as with requests or queries

Derived Formsbesieger, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for besiegers

besiege

c.1300, from be- + siege. Related: Besieged; besieging.