▪ I. beleaguer, v.
(bɪˈliːgə(r))
Also 6 belegar, 7 -guer, beleager, -gre, 8 -gure.
[a. Du. belegeren, f. be- + leger camp; cf. mod.G. belagern: see leaguer.]
1. To surround (a town, etc.) with troops so as to prevent ingress and egress, to invest, besiege.
| 1590 Sir J. Smythe Weapons 4 These..haue so affected the Wallons, Flemings, and base Almanes discipline, that..they will not..affoord to say that such a towne is besieged, but that it is belegard. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres v. iii. 134 Antwerpe,..then by him beleaguered. 1648 Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 26 The castle of Dover, which some say is beleagured. 1846 Prescott Ferd. & Is. I. ix. 392 He reflected that the Castilians would soon be beleaguered. 1856 Longfellow Beleag. City vii, That an army of phantoms vast and wan, Beleaguer the human soul. |
2. transf. To surround, beset (generally with some idea of hostility or annoyance). Cf. besiege.
| 1589 Nashe Almond for P. 5 a, A whole hoast of Pasquils..will so beleaguer your paper walles. 1614 Lodge Seneca 4 Beleager him on euery side by thy bountie. 1741 Richardson Pamela (1824) I. iv. 239 The girl is..beleaguering, as you significantly express it, a worthy gentleman. 1822 W. Irving Braceb. Hall xxvii. 253 It [the house] has been beleaguered by gipsy women. |
▪ II. † beleaguer, n. Obs.
= beleaguerer.
| 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. iii. 31 His men sallied out..in the face of their beleaguers. 1611 Cotgr., Assiegeur, a besieger, a beleaguer. [ed. 1632 beleaguerer.] |