besiege
UK/bi'si:dʒ/US
TOEFLGREC2
Definitions
v.
To surround a place with armed forces in order to capture it
围攻，围困
v.
To crowd around or overwhelm someone, especially with requests or questions
（请求、问题等）使应接不暇，纠缠
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedbe- (thoroughly, about) + siege. Siege itself comes through Old French from Latin sedēre (to sit) — a siege is an army 'sitting down' around a town. So besiege = to surround by sitting all around. The figurative sense follows: reporters besiege a celebrity, sitting in wait on every side.
Root sit still carries 98 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.besiege a city围攻城市
- 2.besiege with questions困扰
Example Sentences
- 1.
Enemy forces besieged the city for six months.
- 2.
The star was besieged by fans at the airport.