I. (ˈ)krü|sād noun
( -s )
Etymology: blend of earlier croisade & crusado; croisade from Middle French, modification (influenced by Old Provençal crozada ) of Old French croisée, from feminine of past participle of croiser to take up the cross, from crois cross; crusado modification of Spanish cruzada (after Provençal crozada ), from feminine of past participle of cruzar to take up the cross, from cruz cross; Old French crois and Spanish cruz from Latin cruc-, crux — more at ridge
1. usually capitalized : an expedition undertaken for a declared religious purpose (as recovering Jerusalem from the Muslims in the middle ages) : a campaign or war sanctioned by the church against unbelievers or heretics
2. : any remedial activity pursued with zeal and enthusiasm
a crusade against drinking
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to engage in a crusade : attack zealously : strive to further a cause
a newspaper crusading against corruption