Word: besiege (verb)

Associations

"Besiege" means to surround a place, usually a city or fortress, with armed forces to try to capture it or force it to surrender. It can also be used in a more general sense to mean overwhelming someone with requests or attention.

• Military example: "The army besieged the castle for months." This means the army surrounded the castle, trying to take it.
• Everyday example: "The celebrity was besieged by fans asking for autographs." Here, it means the celebrity was surrounded and overwhelmed by many people.
• Historical example: "During the war, the city was besieged and cut off from supplies." This shows the typical use in war situations.

Synonym: "surround" is similar, but "besiege" usually implies a longer, more serious effort, often with an attack or pressure. "Surround" can be temporary or less intense.

Substitution

Instead of "besiege," you can say:

• "surround" (less intense, no attack implied)
• "blockade" (more about stopping supplies or movement)
• "pressure" (more about emotional or social force) Each changes the meaning slightly. For example, "blockade" is often about stopping goods, not just surrounding.

Deconstruction

"Besiege" comes from Old French "besieger," meaning "to sit down or occupy," from Latin roots related to "siege," which means a military attack by surrounding.

• Prefix "be-" can mean "around" or "thoroughly."
• Root "siege" means a military attack by surrounding.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where someone might feel "besieged" even if there is no army?
• How would you describe a place that is besieged in a story or movie?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you felt overwhelmed like being "besieged" by many demands or questions? How did you react?