besieging

Everyday

1. Surrounding a town, castle or fort with an army to make it give up. tree →
2. Crowding round someone or something, or sending lots of requests. tree →

In the lessons

History: the besieging army camps outside the walls, cuts off food and water and waits. In everyday speech: «fans besieging the stars' hotel». Phrase: the besieging army/forces.

Examples

• The besieging army dug trenches around the walls. tree →
• Reporters were besieging the hotel. tree →
• The besieging soldiers built catapults. tree →
• Children were besieging the ice-cream van. tree →
• The besieging forces finally gave up and went home. tree →

Note

Spelling: besieging (drop the final «e» of besiege before -ing). «Besieging» is the attackers; «besieged» is the people inside.

In Jewish tradition

History: the besieging army camps outside the walls, cuts off food and water and waits. In everyday speech: «fans besieging the stars' hotel». Phrase: the besieging army/forces.

Examples

• And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came unto the city, while his servants were besieging it. (Prophets 2KI.24.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• Now at that time the king of Babylon's army was besieging Jerusalem; and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the king of Judah's house. (Prophets JER.32.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelling: besieging (drop the final «e» of besiege before -ing). «Besieging» is the attackers; «besieged» is the people inside.