beleaguer

views updated Jun 11 2018

be·lea·guer / biˈlēgər/ • v. [tr.] [usu. as adj.] (beleaguered) lay siege to: he is leading a relief force to the aid of the beleaguered city. ∎  beset with difficulties: the board is supporting the beleaguered director amid calls for his resignation.ORIGIN: late 16th cent.: from Dutch belegeren ‘camp around,’ from be- ‘(all) around’ + leger ‘a camp.’

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

beleaguer

views updated May 23 2018

beleaguer besiege, invest. XVI. — Du. belegeren, f. be- BE- + leger LEAGUER2.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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