/
kruːˈseɪd/
n.
- any of a series of medieval military expeditions made by Europeans to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims.
▸a war instigated for alleged religious ends.
- a vigorous campaign with a political, social, or religious aim:
a crusade against crime.
v.
[
often as adj. crusading]
lead or take part in a crusade.
Derivative
Etymology
C16: from Fr. croisade, alt. (influenced by Sp. cruzado) of earlier croisée, lit. ‘the state of being marked with the cross’, based on L. crux, cruc- ‘cross’.