The word "besieged" has a total of 8 letters, which consist of 3 syllables. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /bɪˈsiːdʒd/. The first syllable starts with the sound "b" followed by "ɪ" and the stress on this syllable is indicated by the apostrophe denoting a longer sound. The second syllable contains the long vowel sound "i" followed by the consonant "dʒ". The final syllable contains only the consonant "d", indicating that it is not stressed.
The term "besieged" is commonly used as an adjective, derived from the verb "besiege," which refers to a military tactic of surrounding a fortified place in order to isolate, cut off supplies, and ultimately capture it. In a broader context, "besieged" describes a state or condition in which someone or something is incessantly troubled, overwhelmed, or afflicted by negative forces.
In a literal sense, "besieged" denotes a situation where a particular location or entity is under sustained attack or encirclement by military forces. Such a scenario often involves the blockage of supply lines and the prevention of resupply, rendering the subject unable to escape or fend off the assailants. This military context exemplifies the use of "besieged" to describe physical aggression, confinement, and the potential for conflict escalation.
Beyond its military application, "besieged" is utilized metaphorically to depict a situation in which an individual, group, organization, or concept faces intense and persistent challenges or difficulties. This figurative usage highlights the overwhelming pressure, adversity, or opposition that the subject experiences, typically from external sources. Whether it be an individual besieged by personal turmoil, a business besieged by economic troubles, or a society besieged by social unrest, the term highlights the sense of being overwhelmed and entrapped by a multitude of problems or threats.
Overall, "besieged" encompasses both the literal and metaphorical connotations of an entity surrounded by antagonistic forces, facing significant challenges, and enduring persistent turmoil or distress.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "besieged" is derived from the Old French verb "besieger", which was formed by adding the prefix "be-" (meaning "around") to the Old French verb "segeir" (meaning "to sit"). "Segeir" itself came from the Late Latin word "sedicare" or "sediare", which meant "to sit" or "to watch over". Over time, "segeir" evolved to "siege" in Middle English, and by the 14th century, the past participle form "besieged" started to appear in English, referring to an army or force surrounding a city or fortification in order to capture it.