leaguer
UK: ˈliːɡə | US: ˈliːɡər
n. 1. A member of a league or alliance.
n. 2. (Historical) A besieger or participant in a siege (archaic).
vt. (Archaic) To besiege or surround with military forces.
leaguer = leagu<league> + er<agent suffix>
- leagu (from "league" <alliance, bond>)
- er (agent suffix <one who does or belongs to>)
Etymology Origin:
The word "leaguer" originates from the Dutch "leger" (meaning "camp" or "army"), which entered English in the 16th century via military contexts. The term initially referred to a besieging army (hence the archaic meaning). Later, it evolved to denote a member of a league or alliance by combining "league" (from Latin ligare, "to bind") with the agent suffix "-er." The dual meanings reflect its historical journey from warfare to cooperative association.
The leaguers gathered to discuss trade policies.
In 1632, the town was surrounded by Spanish leaguers.
He was a prominent leaguer in the environmental alliance.
(Archaic) The army leaguered the fortress for months.
Modern sports leaguers often negotiate collective agreements.