besiege

Everyday

1. To surround a castle, town or city with an army so that nobody can get in or out, to make it give up. tree →
2. To crowd around someone or something, as in «fans besieged the singer». tree →
3. To send someone very many questions, letters or requests. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons it is used for sieges of castles and walled towns, with soldiers, catapults and hunger inside the walls. In stories and news, «besieged by reporters» tells the reader someone is surrounded by a crowd. Phrases: «besieged by», «besiege a castle».

Examples

• The army besieged the castle for six months. tree →
• The town was besieged and food ran out. tree →
• Fans besieged the footballer outside the stadium. tree →
• The teacher was besieged with questions about the trip. tree →
• Reporters besieged the house after the news broke. tree →
• The Vikings besieged Paris in 885. tree →
• Our shop was besieged by shoppers on sale day. tree →
• Having collected a large army Heracles set out for Euboea in order to besiege Oechalia, its capital. tree →

Note

Regular verb: besieged, besieging. Spelling trap: «ie» in besiege, like siege (i before e). Noun: siege, as in «the siege lasted a year». Often used in the passive: «was besieged by».

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: The Torah says to offer peace to a city before attacking it, and only if it refuses may it be besieged. Tradition reads this as a command to seek peace first. In the primary lessons: In history lessons it is used for sieges of castles and walled towns, with soldiers, catapults and hunger inside the walls. In stories and news, «besieged by reporters» tells the reader someone is surrounded by a crowd. Phrases: «besieged by», «besiege a castle».

Examples

• And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it. (Torah DEU.20.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• Go up, O Elam! besiege, O Media! (Prophets ISA.21.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. (Prophets 1SA.23.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; (Prophets 1KI.8.37, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb: besieged, besieging. Spelling trap: «ie» in besiege, like siege (i before e). Noun: siege, as in «the siege lasted a year». Often used in the passive: «was besieged by».