Topic: MILITARY
 |
| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | sege 'seat, siege', from Vulgar Latin sedicum, from Latin sedere 'to sit' |
| |||||||||
siege
[uncountable and countable]
[uncountable and countable]1PM a situation in which an army or the police surround a place and try to gain control of it or force someone to come out of it : 
The siege lasted almost four months.a three-day police siege at a remote country cottage
The siege lasted almost four months.a three-day police siege at a remote country cottage end/lift/raise a siege (=end a siege)
2
lay siege to somebody/something
a) if the army or police lay siege to a place, they start a siege against it : In June 1176 King Richard laid siege to Limoges.
In June 1176 King Richard laid siege to Limoges.b) if you lay siege to someone, you do everything you can to try and get them to talk to you : Then he set to work laying siege to her with letters.
Then he set to work laying siege to her with letters.3
be under siege
a) PM to be surrounded by an army in a siege
b) to be being criticized, attacked, or threatened all the time : The TV station has been under siege from irate viewers phoning in to complain.
The TV station has been under siege from irate viewers phoning in to complain.4 the feeling among a group of people that they are surrounded by enemies and must do everything they can to protect themselves
