siege
UK: siːdʒ | US: siːdʒ
n. a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, to compel surrender
n. a prolonged or persistent effort to overcome resistance
n. (historical) a seat or throne, especially one of ceremonial significance (archaic)
siege = sie<seat> + ge<noun suffix>
- sie<seat>: From Old French siege (seat, throne), derived from Latin sedes (seat). The military sense evolved from the idea of "sitting" around a fortified place to blockade it.
- ge<noun suffix>: A French nominal suffix indicating a state or action.
Etymology Origin:
The word siege traces back to Latin sedes (seat), reflecting its early association with thrones or positions of authority. By the 13th century, Old French siege expanded to describe military blockades, metaphorically framing attackers as "sitting" around a target to starve it out. This dual sense—physical seating and strategic encirclement—highlights the word’s logical progression from literal to tactical contexts.
The castle endured a six-month siege before surrendering.
Protesters laid siege to the government building, demanding reforms.
The general planned a siege to cut off the enemy’s supply lines.
During the Middle Ages, sieges were a common warfare tactic.
The town’s siege mentality grew as resources dwindled.