also 6 belegar, 7 -guer, beleager, -gre, 8 -gure. [a. Du. belegeren, f. be- + leger camp; cf. mod.G. belagern: see LEAGUER.]
1. To surround (a town, etc.) with troops so as to prevent ingress and egress, to invest, besiege.
1590. Sir J. Smythe, Weapons, 4. These … haue so affected the Wallons, Flemings, and base Almanes discipline, that … they will not … affoord to say that such a towne is besieged, but that it is belegard.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, V. iii. 134. Antwerpe,… then by him beleaguered.
1648. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 26. The castle of Dover, which some say is beleagured.
1846. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., I. ix. 392. He reflected that the Castilians would soon be beleaguered.
1856. Longf., Beleag. City, vii. That an army of phantoms vast and wan, Beleaguer the human soul.
2. transf. To surround, beset (generally with some idea of hostility or annoyance). Cf. BESIEGE.
1589. Nashe, Almond for P., 5 a. A whole hoast of Pasquils … will so beleaguer your paper walles.
1614. Lodge, Seneca, 4. Beleager him on euery side by thy bountie.
1741. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. iv. 239. The girl is … beleaguering, as you significantly express it, a worthy gentleman.
1822. W. Irving, Braceb. Hall, xxvii. 253. It [the house] has been beleaguered by gipsy women.
