bə̇ˈsēj, bē- transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English besegen, from be- + sege siege — more at siege
1.
a. : to surround (as a city) with armed forces for the purpose of compelling surrender : lay siege to
b. : to surround closely : hem in : crowd upon or around
I was besieged by four small Bedouin children — A.J.Liebling
on Saturday nights the “picture house” in the town is besieged by eager young men and women — J.M.Mogey
the land offices … were besieged daily by dozens of new settlers — American Guide Series: Ind.
2.
a. : to press especially with requests : importune
hungry for jobs and patronage, they besieged the president from morning to night — H.F.Wilkins
besieging the royal ministers with petitions — T.B.Costain
I was constantly besieged for an opinion — Henry Miller
b. : assail , beset — used of fears or other troubling ideas or sensations
such doubts and hesitations besiege one now and again — B.N.Cardozo
a kind of loneliness … that besieges us — J.A.Pike
• be·sieg·er -jə(r) noun -s