besiege

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to harass, as with questions or requests

   The press photographers besieged the movie star.

2. 2
   verb

   to surround so as to force to give up

   The Turks besieged Vienna.

3. 3
   verb

   to cause to feel distressed or worried

   I was besieged by so many problems that I got discouraged.

4. 4
   verb

   To beleaguer, to vex, to lay siege to, to beset.

   When it arrived, the train was headed by a "K" class 4-6-0 wood-burning locomotive, and a water-tank wagon next to the tender was immediately besieged by women and girls, clad in their picturesque national costume, all with empty kerosene tins for water, a scene which was re-enacted at each stop down the line.

5. 5
   verb

   To beset or surround with armed forces for the purpose of compelling to surrender, to lay siege to, beleaguer.

6. 6
   verb

   To assail or ply, as with requests or demands.

Etymology

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