Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Beleaguer \Be*lea"guer\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Beleaguered}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Beleaguering}.] [D. belegeren (akin to G.
   belagern, Sw. bel["a]gra, Dan. beleire); pref. be- = E. be- +
   leger bed, camp, army, akin to E. lair. See {Lair}.]
   To surround with an army so as to preclude escape; to
   besiege; to blockade.

         The wail of famine in beleaguered towns. --Longfellow.

   Syn: To block up; environ; invest; encompass.

Source : WordNet®

beleaguering
     n : the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified
         place and isolates it while continuing to attack [syn: {siege},
          {besieging}, {military blockade}]