beleaguer Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb annoy persistently
    badger; pester; bug; tease.
    • The children teased the boy because of his stammer
  2. verb surround so as to force to give up
    circumvent; hem in; surround; besiege.
    • The Turks besieged Vienna

WordNet

Be*lea"guer transitive verb
Etymology
D. belegeren (akin to G. belagern, Sw. belägra, Dan. beleire); pref. be- = E. be- + leger bed, camp, army, akin to E. lair. See Lair.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Beleaguered present participle & verbal noun Beleaguering
Definitions
  1. To surround with an army so as to preclude escape; to besiege; to blockade.
    The wail of famine in beleaguered towns. Longfellow.
    Syn. -- To block up; environ; invest; encompass.

Webster 1913