v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Beleaguered p. pr. & vb. n. Beleaguering. ] [ D. belegeren (akin to G. belagern, Sw. belägra, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wail of famine in beleaguered towns. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To block up; environ; invest; encompass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who beleaguers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. collègue, L. collega one chosen at the same time with another, a partner in office; col- + legare to send or choose as deputy. See Legate. ] A partner or associate in some civil or ecclesiastical office or employment. It is never used of partners in trade or manufactures.

Syn. -- Helper; assistant; coadjutor; ally; associate; companion; confederate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To unite or associate with another or with others. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Partnership in office. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

A religious organization of Methodist young people, founded in 1889 at Cleveland, Ohio, and taking its name from John Wesley's birthplace, Epworth, Lincolnshire, England. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Inleagued p. pr. & vb. n. Inleaguing ] To ally, or form an alliance with; to unite; to combine. [ 1913 Webster ]

With a willingness inleague our blood
With his, for purchase of full growth in friendship. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To beleaguer. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. In Ireland, a combination of tenant farmers and other, organized, with Charles Stewart Parnell as president, in 1879 with a view to the reduction of farm rents and a reconstruction of the land laws. -- Land"*lea`guer n. -- Land"*lea`guism n.

The Land League, of which Michael Davitt was the founder, originated in Mayo in August, and at a Dublin in October the organization was extended to all Ireland, with Parnell as president. Encyc. Brit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Cf. OE. legue, lieue, a measure of length, F. lieue, Pr. lega, legua, It. & LL. lega, Sp. legua, Pg. legoa, legua; all fr. LL. leuca, of Celtic origin: cf. Arm. leo, lev (perh. from French), Ir. leige (perh. from English); also Ir. & Gael. leac a flag, a broad, flat stone, W. llech, -- such stones having perh. served as a sort of milestone (cf. Cromlech). ] 1. A measure of length or distance, varying in different countries from about 2.4 to 4.6 English statute miles of 5, 280 feet each, and used (as a land measure) chiefly on the continent of Europe, and in the Spanish parts of America. The marine league of England and the United States is equal to three marine, or geographical, miles of 6080 feet each. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The English land league is equal to three English statute miles. The Spanish and French leagues vary in each country according to usage and the kind of measurement to which they are applied. The Dutch and German leagues contain about four geographical miles, or about 4.6 English statute miles. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A stone erected near a public road to mark the distance of a league. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ligue, LL. liga, fr. L. ligare to bind; cf. Sp. liga. Cf. Ally a confederate, Ligature. ] 1. An alliance or combination of two or more nations, parties, organizations, or persons, for the accomplishment of a purpose which requires a continued course of action, as for mutual defense, or for furtherance of commercial, religious, or political interests, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

And let there be
'Twixt us and them no league, nor amity. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically: (Sports) An association of sports teams that establishes rules of play, decides questions of membership in the league, and organizes matches between the member teams. In some cases a sports league is called a conference, as in the National Football Conference. [ PJC ]

☞ A league may be offensive or defensive, or both; offensive, when the parties agree to unite in attacking a common enemy; defensive, when they agree to a mutual defense of each other against an enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Holy League, an alliance of Roman Catholics formed in 1576 by influence of the Duke of Guise for the exclusion of Protestants from the throne of France. --
Solemn League and Covenant. See Covenant, 2. --
The land league, an association, organized in Dublin in 1879, to promote the interests of the Irish tenantry, its avowed objects being to secure fixity of tenure, fair rent, and free sale of the tenants' interest. It was declared illegal by Parliament, but vigorous prosecutions have failed to suppress it.

Syn. -- Alliance; confederacy; confederation; coalition; combination; compact; cooperation. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Leagued p. pr. & vb. n. Leaguing ] [ Cf. F. se liguer. See 2d League. ] To unite in a league or confederacy; to combine for mutual support; to confederate. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To join in a league; to cause to combine for a joint purpose; to combine; to unite; as, common interests will league heterogeneous elements. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ D. leger camp, bed, couch, lair. See Lair, and cf.Beleaguer. ] 1. The camp of a besieging army; a camp in general. b. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A siege or beleaguering. [ R. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To besiege; to beleaguer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A besieger. [ R. ] J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Sports) The most important league{ 2 } in any sport (especially baseball); contrasted with minor league. Its teams are more competent, its members are paid more, and its games attract more interest and publicity, than those of a minor league. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to a major league; as, major-league football rules. [ PJC ]

2. Among the best or most important of its class; as, a major-league computer manufacturer. [ PJC ]

n. A member of a major-league baseball team. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A sports team that plays in a major league. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Sport) A league of professional sports teams less proficient than a major leagues. Players in the minor leagues generally are paid less than those in the major leagues, and their games attract less atention. Certain minor league sports teams are often owned by those owning a major league club, and the minor league clubs are used to provide practise and opportunity for evaluation for candidates who wish to play in the major leagues.
Syn. -- minor league. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of or pertaining to a minor league. [ PJC ]

2. Of mediocre talent or poor accomplishment; unimportant; -- of people; as, a minor-league physicist. [ PJC ]

. (Eng. Politics) A league of both sexes among the Conservatives, founded in 1883. So called because primrose was (erroneously, it is said) taken to be the favorite flower of the Conservative statesman Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

[ From the Texas (baseball) League. ] (Baseball) A short fly that falls too far out to be handled by an infielder and too close in to be caught by an outfielder; -- called also Texas league single. [ Cant ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]