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Added 9 October 2026

siege

/siːd͡ʒ/ noun

In Latin: obsidiō, obsessiō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about siege at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack.

Origin

From Middle English sege, from Old French sege, siege, seige (modern French siège), from Vulgar Latin *sēdicum, from Latin sēdicŭlum, sēdēcula (“small seat”), from Latin sēdēs (“seat”). The military sense of the term is derived from the notion of an army "sitting down" in front of its target.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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