crusade

[ kroo-seyd ]
/ kruˈseɪd /

noun

(often initial capital letter) any of the military expeditions undertaken by the Christians of Europe in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries for the recovery of the Holy Land from the Muslims.
any war carried on under papal sanction.
any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea, cause, etc.: a crusade against child abuse.

verb (used without object), cru·sad·ed, cru·sad·ing.

to go on or engage in a crusade.

Origin of crusade

1570–80; earlier crusada < Spanish cruzada; replacing croisade < Middle French. See cross, -ade1

OTHER WORDS FROM crusade

cru·sad·er, noun non·cru·sad·ing, adjective post-Cru·sade, adjective pre-Cru·sade, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for crusades

British Dictionary definitions for crusades

crusade
/ (kruːˈseɪd) /

noun

(often capital) any of the military expeditions undertaken in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries by the Christian powers of Europe to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims
(formerly) any holy war undertaken on behalf of a religious cause
a vigorous and dedicated action or movement in favour of a cause

verb (intr)

to campaign vigorously for something
to go on a crusade

Derived forms of crusade

crusader, noun

Word Origin for crusade

C16: from earlier croisade, from Old French crois cross, from Latin crux; influenced also by Spanish cruzada, from cruzar to take up the cross

Cultural definitions for crusades

Crusades

A series of wars fought from the late eleventh through the thirteenth centuries, in which European kings and warriors set out to gain control of the lands in which Jesus lived, known as the Holy Land. At that time, these areas were held by Muslims. The Crusaders conquered Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem) in 1099 but failed to secure the Holy Land, and they were driven out by the late thirteenth century. Nevertheless, the Crusades had several lasting results, including the exposure of Europeans to the goods, technology, and customs of Asia.

notes for Crusades

The Crusades left a legacy of bitterness against Europeans and Christians among Muslims.