Beleaguered

Beleaguered
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. [1913 Webster]

The wail of famine in beleaguered towns. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To block up; environ; invest; encompass. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • beleaguered — UK US /bɪˈliːgəd/ adjective FORMAL ► experiencing a lot of problems or strong criticism: »The beleaguered company has recently been torn apart by rumours of a bitter feud among its senior executives. beleaguered by sth »This emergency legislation …   Financial and business terms

  • beleaguered — ► ADJECTIVE 1) under siege. 2) in difficulties; harassed. ORIGIN from Dutch belegeren camp round …   English terms dictionary

  • beleaguered — [[t]bɪli͟ːgə(r)d[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n A beleaguered person, organization, or project is experiencing a lot of difficulties, opposition, or criticism. [FORMAL] There have been seven coup attempts against the beleaguered government of Mrs… …   English dictionary

  • beleaguered — be|lea|guered [bıˈli:gəd US ərd] adj [usually before noun] formal [Date: 1500 1600; : Dutch; Origin: belegeren, from leger camp ] 1.) experiencing a lot of problems or criticism ▪ the country s beleaguered steel industry 2.) surrounded by an army …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • beleaguered — be|lea|guered [ bı ligərd ] adjective only before noun 1. ) having a lot of problems or criticism to deal with: a beleaguered football coach The beleaguered actor refused to talk to reporters today. 2. ) MAINLY LITERARY surrounded by an army and… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • beleaguered — adjective 1) the beleaguered garrison Syn: besieged, under siege, blockaded, surrounded, encircled, beset, hemmed in, under attack 2) a beleaguered government Syn: hard pressed, troubled, in difficulties …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • beleaguered — adjective 1) the beleaguered garrison Syn: besieged, blockaded, surrounded, encircled, hemmed in, under attack 2) a beleaguered government Syn: troubled, harassed, hard pressed, in difficulties …   Synonyms and antonyms dictionary

  • beleaguered — UK [bɪˈliːɡə(r)d] / US [bɪˈlɪɡərd] adjective [only before noun] 1) having a lot of problems or criticism to deal with a beleaguered football manager The beleaguered actor refused to talk to reporters today. 2) mainly literary surrounded by an… …   English dictionary

  • beleaguered — /bəˈligəd/ (say buh leeguhd), /bi / (say bee ) verb 1. past tense and past participle of beleaguer. –adjective 2. surrounded by hostile forces: the beleaguered city. 3. oppressed by problems that threaten one s position, role, status, prospects,… …  

  • beleaguered — adj 1 a beleaguered person harassed, pestered, troubled, tormented, badgered, bothered, worried, vexed, plagued, persecuted, beset 2 a beleaguered city besieged, under siege, surrounded, blockaded …   Useful english dictionary

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