beleaguer

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: be=lea=guer

CIDE DICTIONARY

beleaguer, v. t. [D. belegeren (akin to G. belagern, Sw. belägra, Dan. beleire); pref. be- = E. be- + leger bed, camp, army, akin to E. lair. See Lair.].

 To surround with an army so as to preclude escape; to besiege; to blockade.  [1913 Webster]
"The wail of famine in beleaguered towns."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To block up; environ; invest; encompass.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

beleaguer, v.tr.
1 besiege.
2 vex; harass.

Etymology

Du. belegeren camp round (as BE-, leger a camp)

THESAURUS

beleaguer

annoy, bedevil, beset, besiege, blockade, bound, box in, cage, chamber, close in, compass, contain, coop, coop in, coop up, cordon, cordon off, corral, encircle, enclose, encompass, enshrine, envelop, fence in, gnaw, harass, harry, hedge in, hem in, house in, impound, imprison, incarcerate, include, invest, jail, kennel, lay siege to, leaguer, mew, mew up, pen, pen in, pester, plague, pocket, quarantine, rail in, shrine, shut in, shut up, siege, soften up, stable, storm, surround, tease, wall in, wrap, yard, yard up

ROGET THESAURUS

beleaguer

Attack

VB attack, assault, assail, invade, set upon, fall upon, charge, impugn, break a lance with, enter the lists, assume the offensive, take the offensive, be the aggressor, become the aggressor, strike the first blow, draw first blood, throw the first stone at, lift a hand against, draw the sword against, take up the cudgels, advance against, march against, march upon, harry, come on, show fight, strike at, poke at, thrust at, aim a blow at, deal a blow at, give one a blow, fetch one a blow, fetch one a kick, give one a kick, have a cut at, have a shot at, take a cut at, take a shot at, have a fling at, have a shy at, be down upon, pounce upon, fall foul of, pitch into, launch out against, bait, slap on the face, make a thrust at, make a pass at, make a set at, make a dead set at, bear down upon, close with, come to close quarters, bring to bay, ride full tilt against, attack tooth and nail, go at hammer and tongs, let fly at, dash at, run a tilt at, rush at, tilt at, run at, fly at, hawk at, have at, let out at, make a dash, make a rush at, strike home, drive one hard, press one hard, be hard upon, run down, strike at the root of, lay about one, run amuck, aim at, draw a bead on, fire upon, fire at, fire a shot at, shoot at, pop at, level at, let off a gun at, open fire, pepper, bombard, shell, pour a broadside into, fire a volley, fire red-hot shot, spring a mine, throw a stone, throw stones at, stone, lapidate, pelt, hurl at, hurl against, hurl at the head of, rock beset, besiege, beleaguer, lay siege to, invest, open the trenches, plant a battery, sap, mine, storm, board, scale the walls, cut and thrust, bayonet, butt, kick, strike, whip, assail, impugn, malign (detract), bomb, rocket, blast.