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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Beleaguering

Beleaguer \Be*lea"guer\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beleaguered; p. pr. & vb. n. Beleaguering.] [D. belegeren (akin to G. belagern, Sw. bel["a]gra, 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.

The wail of famine in beleaguered towns.
--Longfellow.

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

Wiktionary
beleaguering

vb. (present participle of beleaguer English)

WordNet
beleaguering

n. the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack [syn: siege, besieging, military blockade]

Usage examples of "beleaguering".

But the beleaguering prince was so incensed against them for their long resistance that he said he would spare none but the women and children--all men should be put to the sword without exception, and all their goods destroyed.

One might have imagined he saw before him the tented camps of a beleaguering host of Brobdingnagians.

Sometimes he fancied that the wary savage, despairing of passing the beleaguering army of Montcalm, in safety, was holding his way towards a well known border settlement, where a distinguished officer of the crown, and a favoured friend of the Six Nations, held his large possessions, as well as his usual residence.

Having learnt from their scouts that the beleaguering force was gone, they had ridden on with the advanced guard.

He was still beleaguering the strike team, still wearing it down, still trying to take a few prizes alive.