Crusade

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪd

Origin

Formed as a hybrid of Middle French croisade and Spanish cruzada, both from cruciata, cruzata. In English use since the 1570s.

Alternative forms

Full definition of crusade

Noun

1. Any of the military expeditions undertaken by the Christians of Europe in the 11th to 13th centuries to reconquer the Levant from the Muslims.During the crusades, many Muslims and Christians and Jews were slaughtered.
2. (figuratively) A grand concerted effort toward some purportedly worthy cause.a crusade against drug abuse
3. (archaic) A Portuguese coin; a crusado.

Derived terms

• crusader

Related terms

• cross
• crucial
• crucifer
• crucify
• crucifixion
• excruciate
• excruciation

Verb

1. To make a grand concerted effort toward some purportedly worthy cause.He crusaded against similar injustices for the rest of his life.