Siege

//siːd͡ʒ// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Military action.; A prolonged military assault or a blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition.

    "The Peloponnesian war is a proper subject for history, the siege of Athens for an epic poem, and the death of Alcibiades for a tragedy."

  2. 2
    the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack wordnet
  3. 3
    Military action.; A period of struggle or difficulty, especially from illness. US
  4. 4
    Military action.; A prolonged assault or attack. figuratively

    "But once again Hodgson's men found a way to get the result they required and there is a real air of respectability about their campaign even though they had to survive a first-half siege from a Ukraine side desperate for the win they needed to progress."

  5. 5
    A seat.; A seat, especially as used by someone of importance or authority. obsolete

    "Now Merlyn said kyng Arthur / goo thow and aspye me in al this land l knyghtes whiche ben of most prowesse & worship / within short tyme merlyn had founde suche knyȝtes[…]Thenne the Bisshop of Caunterbury was fette and he blessid the syeges with grete Royalte and deuoycyon / and there sette the viij and xx knyghtes in her syeges"

Show 10 more definitions
  1. 6
    A seat.; An ecclesiastical see. obsolete
  2. 7
    A seat.; The place where one has his seat; a home, residence, domain, empire. obsolete
  3. 8
    A seat.; The seat of a heron while looking out for prey.
  4. 9
    A seat.; A flock of herons.
  5. 10
    A seat.; A toilet seat. obsolete
  6. 11
    A seat.; The anus; the rectum. obsolete

    "Another ground were certain holes or cavities observable about the siege; which being perceived in males, made some conceive there might be also a feminine nature in them."

  7. 12
    A seat.; Excrements, stool, fecal matter. obsolete

    "Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How cam'st thou / to be the siege of this moon-calf? Can he vent Trinculos?"

  8. 13
    A seat.; Rank; grade; station; estimation. obsolete

    "I fetch my life and being / From men of royal siege."

  9. 14
    A seat.; The floor of a glass-furnace. obsolete
  10. 15
    A place with a toilet seat: an outhouse; a lavatory. obsolete
Verb
  1. 1
    To assault or blockade a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition; to besiege. transitive, uncommon

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English sege, from Old French sege, siege, seige (modern French siège), from Vulgar Latin *sēdicum, from Latin sēdicŭlum, sēdēcula (“small seat”), from Latin sēdēs (“seat”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English sege, from Old French sege, siege, seige (modern French siège), from Vulgar Latin *sēdicum, from Latin sēdicŭlum, sēdēcula (“small seat”), from Latin sēdēs (“seat”).

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: siege