besiege

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To surround a place with armed forces to force it to surrender

   Enemy troops besieged the city for months.

2. 2
   verb

   To crowd around or overwhelm someone with questions, requests, or demands

   Reporters besieged the actor as soon as he left the building.

3. 3
   verb

   To trouble or overwhelm someone with worries or problems

   He was besieged by doubts about whether he had made the right choice.

From Middle English besegen, bisegen, equivalent to be- (“around, about”) + siege.

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