What is "to raise a siege"

Raise \Raise\ (r[=a]z), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raised (r[=a]zd); p. pr. & vb. n. Raising.] [OE. reisen, Icel. reisa, causative of r[=i]sa to rise. See Rise, and cf. Rear to raise.]

1. To cause to rise; to bring from a lower to a higher place; to lift upward; to elevate; to heave; as, to raise a stone or weight. Hence, figuratively:

   1. To bring to a higher condition or situation; to elevate in rank, dignity, and the like; to increase the value or estimation of; to promote; to exalt; to advance; to enhance; as, to raise from a low estate; to raise to office; to raise the price, and the like.

      This gentleman came to be raised to great titles.
      --Clarendon.

      The plate pieces of eight were raised three pence in the piece.
      --Sir W. Temple.

   2. To increase the strength, vigor, or vehemence of; to excite; to intensify; to invigorate; to heighten; as, to raise the pulse; to raise the voice; to raise the spirits or the courage; to raise the heat of a furnace.

   3. To elevate in degree according to some scale; as, to raise the pitch of the voice; to raise the temperature of a room.

2. To cause to rise up, or assume an erect position or posture; to set up; to make upright; as, to raise a mast or flagstaff. Hence:

   1. To cause to spring up from a recumbent position, from a state of quiet, or the like; to awaken; to arouse.

      They shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
      --Job xiv. 12.

   2. To rouse to action; to stir up; to incite to tumult, struggle, or war; to excite.

      He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind.
      --Ps. cvii. 25.

      [AE]neas . . . employs his pains, In parts remote, to raise the Tuscan swains.
      --Dryden.

   3. To bring up from the lower world; to call up, as a spirit from the world of spirits; to recall from death; to give life to.

      Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead ?
      --Acts xxvi. 8.

3. To cause to arise, grow up, or come into being or to appear; to give rise to; to originate, produce, cause, effect, or the like. Hence, specifically:

   1. To form by the accumulation of materials or constituent parts; to build up; to erect; as, to raise a lofty structure, a wall, a heap of stones.

      I will raise forts against thee.
      --Isa. xxix. 3.

   2. To bring together; to collect; to levy; to get together or obtain for use or service; as, to raise money, troops, and the like. ``To raise up a rent.''
      --Chaucer.

   3. To cause to grow; to procure to be produced, bred, or propagated; to grow; as, to raise corn, barley, hops, etc.; toraise cattle. ``He raised sheep.'' ``He raised wheat where none grew before.''
      --Johnson's Dict.

      Note: In some parts of the United States, notably in the Southern States, raise is also commonly applied to the rearing or bringing up of children.

      I was raised, as they say in Virginia, among the mountains of the North.
      --Paulding.

   4. To bring into being; to produce; to cause to arise, come forth, or appear; -- often with up.

      I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee.
      --Deut. xviii. 18.

      God vouchsafes to raise another world From him [Noah], and all his anger to forget.
      --Milton.

   5. To give rise to; to set agoing; to occasion; to start; to originate; as, to raise a smile or a blush.

      Thou shalt not raise a false report.
      --Ex. xxiii. 1.

   6. To give vent or utterance to; to utter; to strike up.

      Soon as the prince appears, they raise a cry.
      --Dryden.

   7. To bring to notice; to submit for consideration; as, to raise a point of order; to raise an objection.

4. To cause to rise, as by the effect of leaven; to make light and spongy, as bread.

   Miss Liddy can dance a jig, and raise paste.
   --Spectator.

5. (Naut.)

   1. To cause (the land or any other object) to seem higher by drawing nearer to it; as, to raise Sandy Hook light.

   2. To let go; as in the command, Raise tacks and sheets, i. e., Let go tacks and sheets.

6. (Law) To create or constitute; as, to raise a use, that is, to create it.
   --Burrill.

   To raise a blockade (Mil.), to remove or break up a blockade, either by withdrawing the ships or forces employed in enforcing it, or by driving them away or dispersing them.

   To raise a check, note, bill of exchange, etc., to increase fraudulently its nominal value by changing the writing, figures, or printing in which the sum payable is specified.

   To raise a siege, to relinquish an attempt to take a place by besieging it, or to cause the attempt to be relinquished.

   To raise steam, to produce steam of a required pressure.

   To raise the wind, to procure ready money by some temporary expedient. [Colloq.]

   To raise Cain, or To raise the devil, to cause a great disturbance; to make great trouble. [Slang]

   Syn: To lift; exalt; elevate; erect; originate; cause; produce; grow; heighten; aggravate; excite.