crusade
UK: kruːˈseɪd | US: kruːˈseɪd
n. 1. A medieval military expedition by European Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslims.
n. 2. A vigorous campaign or movement for a cause, often moral or political.
v. 3. To engage in a crusade; to campaign zealously.
crusade = crus<cross> + ade<noun suffix denoting action or process>
- crus (from Latin crux "cross"): Symbolized the Christian cross, emblem of the expeditions.
- ade (from Latin -ata, via Old French -ade): Forms nouns indicating action or result (e.g., "blockade").
Etymology Origin:
The term originated from the Old French croisade (literally "marked by the cross"), derived from Latin crux. Medieval Christians sewed crosses onto garments to signify participation in holy wars. Over time, "crusade" expanded metaphorically to denote any fervent campaign, reflecting its historical association with zeal and organized effort.
The First Crusade began in 1096 to capture Jerusalem.
She launched a crusade against plastic pollution in her community.
Many knights took vows to join the crusade.
His book crusades for educational reform.
The protest became a moral crusade for justice.