In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
BESIEGE
besiege
(verb) harass, as with questions or requests; “The press photographers besieged the movie star”
besiege, beleaguer, surround, hem in, circumvent
(verb) surround so as to force to give up; “The Turks besieged Vienna”
besiege
(verb) cause to feel distressed or worried; “She was besieged by so many problems that she got discouraged”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
besiege (third-person singular simple present besieges, present participle besieging, simple past and past participle besieged)
(transitive) To beset or surround with armed forces for the purpose of compelling to surrender, to lay siege to, beleaguer.
(transitive, figuratively) To beleaguer, to vex, to lay siege to, to beset.
to assail or ply, as with requests or demands.
Source: Wiktionary
Be*siege", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besieged; p. pr. & vb. n. Besieging.] Etym: [OE. bisegen; pref. be- + segen to siege. See Siege.]
Definition: To beset or surround with armed forces, for the purpose of compelling to surrender; to lay siege to; to beleaguer; to beset. Till Paris was besieged, famished, and lost. Shak.
Syn.
– To environ; hem in; invest; encompass.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
29 April 2024
SUBDUCTION
(noun) a geological process in which one edge of a crustal plate is forced sideways and downward into the mantle below another plate
Coffee Trivia
