noun / verb
siege
SEEJ/siːdʒ/
A sustained effort to force surrender or compliance by surrounding or blockading a target.
The siege surrounds the castle with camps and blocks its roads.
Etymology
From the root meaning “to sit,” siege first meant a seat or throne. Its military meaning pictures an army “sitting down” before or around a fortified place to force its surrender.
In context
On December 30th, the siege was lifted as the English spiked their guns, set their small fleet and the town to the torch, and retreated to Charles Town on foot.
More examples
- The army laid siege to the city.
- Several sieges lasted through winter.
- The defenders endured the siege.
Forms
siege · sieges · sieged · sieging
Similar words
- blockade
- Emphasizes cutting off access rather than surrounding a fortified target.
- assault
- A direct attack rather than sustained surrounding pressure.