cru·sade 
(kr
-s
d
)
KEY NOUN:
- often Crusade Any of the military expeditions undertaken by European Christians in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims.
- A holy war undertaken with papal sanction.
- A vigorous concerted movement for a cause or against an abuse. See Synonyms at campaign.
intr.v. cru·sad·ed,
cru·sad·ing,
cru·sades - To engage in a crusade.
ETYMOLOGY:French
croisade, and Spanish
cruzada both ultimately from Latin
crux, cruc-,
crossOTHER FORMS:cru·sader(Noun)
