crusade Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end
    campaign; cause; drive; effort; movement.
    • he supported populist campaigns
    • they worked in the cause of world peace
    • the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant
    • the movement to end slavery
    • contributed to the war effort
  2. noun any of the more or less continuous military expeditions in the 11th to 13th centuries when Christian powers of Europe tried to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims
  3. verb exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for
    campaign; agitate; fight; push; press.
    • The liberal party pushed for reforms
    • She is crusading for women's rights
    • The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate
  4. verb go on a crusade; fight a holy war

WordNet

Cru*sade" noun
Etymology
F. croisade, fr. Pr. crozada, or Sp cruzada, or It. crociata, from a verb signifying to take the cross, mark one's self with a cross, fr. L. crux cross; or possibly taken into English directly fr. Pr. Cf. Croisade, Crosado, and see Cross.
Definitions
  1. Any one of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian powers, in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, for the recovery of the Holy Land from the Mohammedans.
  2. Any enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm; as, a crusade against intemperance.
  3. A Portuguese coin. See Crusado.
Cru*sade" intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Crusaded; present participle & verbal noun Crusading
Definitions
  1. To engage in a crusade; to attack in a zealous or hot-headed manner. "Cease crusading against sense." M. Green.

Webster 1913