besiege
Etymology
From Middle English besegen, bisegen, equivalent to be- (“around, about”) + siege.
verb
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(transitive) To beset or surround with armed forces for the purpose of compelling to surrender, to lay siege to, beleaguer. -
(transitive, figurative) To beleaguer, to vex, to lay siege to, to beset. When it arrived, the train was headed by a "K" class 4-6-0 wood-burning locomotive, and a water-tank wagon next to the tender was immediately besieged by women and girls, clad in their picturesque national costume, all with empty kerosene tins for water, a scene which was re-enacted at each stop down the line. 1943 November and December, G. T. Porter, “The Lines Behind the Lines in Burma”, in Railway Magazine, page 325They should have inflicted a much heavier loss on their besieged opponents, the highlight being a late goal for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins on debut after he came on as a substitute. 25 March 2021, Phil McNulty, “England 5-0 San Marino”, in BBC Sport -
to assail or ply, as with requests or demands.
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