American Dictionary of the English Language

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Websters Dictionary 1828


This online edition has been carefully prepared in a special format. All words, definitions, and examples have been preserved, but the explanations of word origins have been left out to make the data easier to use in a digital format. We have also removed Webster's long technical introduction for the same reason.

Scripture references have been converted to a modern format, and many abbreviations have been expanded to make them easier to understand.

Word of the Day

Besiege

BESIE'GE, verb transitive [be and siege.]

1. To lay siege to; to beleaguer; to beset, or surround with armed forces, for the purpose of compelling to surrender, either by famine or by violent attacks; as, to besiege a castle or city.

2. To beset; to throng round.

First Occurrence in the Bible(KJV): Deuteronomy 20:12