embattled
四面楚歌
definition
verb
it was three o'clock before the king's army was embattled
set (an army) in battle array.
adjective
the embattled Yugoslavian republics
(of a place or people) involved in or prepared for war, especially because surrounded by enemy forces.
divided or edged by a line of square notches like battlements in outline.
example
The disclosure will prove embarrassing to Jack McConnell, the first minister, who resisted calls to withdraw his invitation to the 'embattled' president amid a series of corruption allegations.
The incident has had the nation abuzz - who kidnapped Dacer and why? - and is one more headache for the 'embattled' President Joseph Estrada, currently mired in an impeachment trial.
In the space of two years, Gilbert's reputation had changed from 'embattled' loser to hardened survivor, and the word was out that he was looking for more acquisitions.
Rebellion after rebellion had to be put down and the 'embattled' dynasty was forced to rely increasingly on Chinese militia as the standard of the purely Manchu units had declined dramatically.
An 'embattled' railway executive from Scotland was last week in France.
John Swinney, the 'embattled' leader of the SNP, was last night facing a new crisis of credibility after two of his own MSPs suggested he should step aside because of his failure to make the party relevant to ordinary voters.
These sites were still towns, but very different from those of the 2nd century - no longer the local centres and garden-cities of a Romanising gentry, but heavily defended outposts of an 'embattled' empire.
However, it appears that there has been a resurgence of narco-terrorism in that 'embattled' land, particularly in so-called Liberated Territories.
Venezuela's 'embattled' President Hugo Chavez has also announced a last-minute decision to appear here on Sunday.
For some time, European nations have faced the task of incorporating migrants from these and other parts of 'embattled' sites in the world.
Ahead, the three network anchors make a joint appearance, with Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings offering support to an 'embattled' Dan Rather.
We now learn that the unit will go through the 'embattled' city after all.
It emerged last night that Ireland's national emergency plan for nuclear accidents has been under review for almost five years - three more than 'embattled' Minister of State Joe Jacob claimed.
South African officials said on Sunday they had made no offer of asylum to Haiti's 'embattled' leader, despite reports that President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was headed here after fleeing his country.
Though the 'embattled' Minister welcomed the inquiry, the news that the ethics watchdog is to hold a preliminary inquiry has substantially increased the pressure upon him.
The artillery attack was a violation of the unilateral cease-fire announced by the LTTE themselves to allow civilians to move out of the 'embattled' zone, the statement said.
Blatter, the 'embattled' president of the governing body, has had other things on his mind but, in Japan and South Korea, the co-hosts can think of little other than the World Cup.
Just a mile from where Marines and rebels are busy killing each other in this 'embattled' city, other American troops are getting on fine with locals, making medical house calls and sharing home-cooked meals.
Will the GOP electorate be so engaged when they aren't responding to so many attacks and supporting an 'embattled' leader?
The 'embattled' minister refused to be drawn yesterday on accusations that he had deceived the public before the election when he insisted that no spending cuts were planned.
Just as they did during the first siege of Falluja seven months ago, residents of the Iraqi town of Karma, most of whom have tribal ties with the 'embattled' city, have rallied to the defence of their kinsmen.
But if it keeps a clear focus it might achieve a way forward for our 'embattled' province.
She quit her government job after her boss criticized her 'embattled' dad, and now she speaks out in his defense for the first time.
Agha's forces have been pushing from the south against Kandahar while troops loyal to former deputy foreign minister Hamid Karzai have been advancing from the north against the 'embattled' city.
As it approached the hangar, the sound system played the grandiose theme tune to Air Force One, a thriller starring Harrison Ford as a tough, 'embattled' president.
Teenage fighters with rocket-propelled grenades and rifles lurked on bridges or in derelict areas near the main highway leading west toward the 'embattled' town of Fallujah.
No wonder the 'embattled' president felt able to declare icily that in the future: ‘I shall be a little more prudent, particularly in the choice of those people who work directly with me.’
An hour later the army relieves me of the decision by closing the 'embattled' road.
Allies of Charles Kennedy last night rallied around their 'embattled' leader as he pondered whether to sue over new claims his drinking has affected his performance in the job.
Shehadeh's family live in the 'embattled' town of Ramallah after being forcibly removed from their original seaside home in Jaffa.
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