Siege vs. Seige — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 19, 2024
The correct spelling is "Siege," which refers to the act of surrounding and attacking a fortified place over a period. "Seige" is an incorrect spelling.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Siege or Seige
How to spell Siege?
Siege
Correct Spelling
Seige
Incorrect Spelling
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Key Differences
"Siege" rhymes with "liege," and both are spelled with 'ie.'
Think of the 'i' as being 'inside' the 'e' to remember the right order.
"Siege" follows the 'I before E, except after C' rule.
The word "Siege" is like "sieving" through a fortress, both beginning with "Sie-."
Associate the first three letters with “Sit,” as in sitting around a place you are besieging.
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How Do You Spell Seige Correctly?
Incorrect: They couldn't withstand the seige any longer.
Correct: They couldn't withstand the siege any longer.
Incorrect: The city was under seige for over a year.
Correct: The city was under siege for over a year.
Incorrect: The seige was finally lifted after a peace agreement.
Correct: The siege was finally lifted after a peace agreement.
Incorrect: The army prepared for a long seige.
Correct: The army prepared for a long siege.
Incorrect: He lay seige to the castle for months.
Correct: He lay siege to the castle for months.
Siege Definitions
The military blockade of a city to compel it to surrender.
The army laid siege to the fortress.
To crowd around in order to overwhelm or harass.
Reporters laid siege to the celebrity.
A prolonged period of misfortune or difficulty.
The company has been under siege from regulators.
In chess, the control and threat to a square or position.
His queen put my king under siege.
In technology, a stress test for a network or server.
We conducted a siege test to assess the server's capabilities.
A siege is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or a well-prepared assault. This derives from Latin: sedere, lit. 'to sit'.
A military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling those inside to surrender
Siege warfare
Verdun had withstood a siege of ten weeks
A group of herons
There is a siege of herons at the river
The surrounding and blockading of a city, town, or fortress by an army attempting to capture it.
A prolonged period, as of illness
A siege of asthma.
(Obsolete) A seat, especially a throne.
To subject to a siege; besiege
The invaders sieged the castle.
(heading) Military action.
(US) A period of struggle or difficulty, especially from illness.
(figuratively) A prolonged assault or attack.
(heading) A seat.
(obsolete) A seat, especially as used by someone of importance or authority.
(obsolete) An ecclesiastical see.
(obsolete) The place where one has his seat; a home, residence, domain, empire.
The seat of a heron while looking out for prey.
A flock of heron.
(obsolete) A toilet seat.
(obsolete) The anus; the rectum.
(obsolete) Excrements, stool, fecal matter.
(obsolete) Rank; grade; station; estimation.
(obsolete) The floor of a glass-furnace.
(obsolete) A place with a toilet seat: an outhouse; a lavatory.
To assault or blockade a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition; to besiege.
A seat; especially, a royal seat; a throne.
A stately siege of sovereign majesty,And thereon sat a woman gorgeous gay.
In our great hall there stood a vacant chair . . . And Merlin called it "The siege perilous."
Hence, place or situation; seat.
Ah! traitorous eyes, come out of your shameless siege forever.
Rank; grade; station; estimation.
I fetch my life and beingFrom men of royal siege.
Passage of excrements; stool; fecal matter.
The siege of this mooncalf.
The sitting of an army around or before a fortified place for the purpose of compelling the garrison to surrender; the surrounding or investing of a place by an army, and approaching it by passages and advanced works, which cover the besiegers from the enemy's fire. See the Note under Blockade.
Hence, a continued attempt to gain possession.
Love stood the siege, and would not yield his breast.
The floor of a glass-furnace.
A workman's bench.
To besiege; to beset.
Through all the dangers that can siegeThe life of man.
The action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
Siege Meaning in a Sentence
The siege engines were used to break through the fortress walls.
The siege lasted for several months before the city surrendered.
During the siege, the villagers had very little food and water.
The enemy army withdrew, ending the long siege.
The siege was lifted when reinforcements arrived.
The medieval castle was built to withstand a siege.
The general ordered a siege to capture the rebel stronghold.
To end the siege, the king sent his best negotiators.
The siege of the ancient city is a famous historical event.
Historical records detail the siege and its impact on the city.
The siege is remembered as a time of bravery and endurance.
Stories of the siege are told to this day.
The soldiers set up camp outside the city, beginning the siege.
During the siege, the city's gates were kept firmly closed.
The siege caused great hardship for the people inside the city.
The people celebrated joyously when the siege was over.
The commander decided to break the siege and retreat.
After the siege, the city walls were repaired and strengthened.
The defenders were prepared for a siege with ample supplies.
The castle's thick walls were built specifically to survive a siege.
The army used catapults and battering rams during the siege.
The siege left the city in ruins, but it was eventually rebuilt.
The siege ended with a surprising victory for the defenders.
The siege was a key event in the war's outcome.
The city's defenders used clever tactics to withstand the siege.
Siege Idioms & Phrases
Break the siege
To relieve or end a siege by breaking through the besieging forces.
The allied forces planned a counterattack to break the siege.
Under siege
Being attacked or surrounded by enemy forces.
The village was under siege for weeks before help arrived.
Siege mentality
A shared feeling of being under constant attack or threat.
The constant criticism from the media created a siege mentality among the team members.
Lay siege to
To surround a place with armed forces to capture it or force its surrender.
The army decided to lay siege to the fortress to end the conflict.
Lift the siege
To end a siege, either by withdrawal of the besieging forces or by breaking through them.
The arrival of reinforcements helped lift the siege on the city.
Siege tactics
Strategies used during a siege to capture or defeat the enemy.
The general employed innovative siege tactics to win the battle.
Siege warfare
A form of warfare where an attacker surrounds a place to isolate it and force surrender.
Siege warfare was a common strategy in medieval times.
Put under siege
To start a siege against a place or group.
The rebels put the capital under siege in their push against the government.
Feel under siege
To feel as if one is being attacked or heavily pressured from multiple fronts.
With deadlines approaching, he felt under siege from all the work left to do.
Siege economy
An economy that is heavily influenced or controlled by wartime or conflict conditions.
The country operated under a siege economy during the prolonged conflict.
After the siege
Referring to the period or situation following a siege.
After the siege, the community worked together to rebuild their lives.
A siege of illness
A prolonged period of illness affecting someone.
After a siege of illness, he finally began to feel better.
Endure a siege
To withstand an attack or pressure over a period of time.
The small town endured a siege but remained resilient.
Siege engine
A type of large weapon used in medieval sieges.
The museum displayed a reconstructed siege engine used in ancient warfare.
Common Curiosities
What is the root word of Siege?
The root word is the Old French "sege," which means a 'seat' or 'sitting.'
Why is it called Siege?
Derived from Latin "sedere," meaning 'to sit,' it refers to 'sitting down' around a target to attack or starve it.
What is the pronunciation of Siege?
Pronounced as /siːdʒ/.
Which vowel is used before Siege?
Typically "a," as in "a siege."
Which conjunction is used with Siege?
"And" as in "siege and capture."
What is the plural form of Siege?
The plural form is "Sieges."
Which article is used with Siege?
"A" or "the" can be used depending on the context.
Is Siege an adverb?
No.
Is Siege a negative or positive word?
Generally considered negative due to its association with warfare and hardship.
What is the verb form of Siege?
The verb form is "to besiege."
Is the word Siege imperative?
No, it's a noun.
Which preposition is used with Siege?
"Under" as in "under siege," or "to" as in "lay siege to."
What is the singular form of Siege?
"Siege" is the singular form.
Is Siege an abstract noun?
No, it's a concrete noun referring to a specific action or event.
How many syllables are in Siege?
One syllable.
What is a stressed syllable in Siege?
The entire word is stressed, being a single syllable.
Which determiner is used with Siege?
"The," "this," "such."
Is Siege a vowel or consonant?
The word contains both vowels and consonants.
Is Siege a countable noun?
Yes, you can have multiple "sieges."
Is Siege a collective noun?
No.
Is the word Siege a Gerund?
No, it's a noun.
Is the word “Siege” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can be either, depending on the sentence structure.
What part of speech is Siege?
Noun.
What is the opposite of Siege?
Retreat, withdrawal.
Is Siege a noun or adjective?
It is primarily a noun.
How do we divide Siege into syllables?
Since it's a one-syllable word, it isn't divided.
What is another term for Siege?
Blockade, encirclement.
How is Siege used in a sentence?
"The soldiers laid siege to the castle for weeks."
Is the Siege term a metaphor?
It can be used metaphorically to describe being overwhelmed.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
