blockaded

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block·ade

(blŏ-kād′)

1. The isolation of a nation, area, city, or harbor by hostile ships or forces in order to prevent the entrance and exit of traffic and commerce.

2. The forces used to effect this isolation.

tr.v. block·ad·ed, block·ad·ing, block·ades

To set up a blockade against: blockaded the harbor.

[Probably block + -ade (as in barricade).]

block·ad′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Adj.

blockaded - preventing entry or exit or a course of action; "a barricaded street"; "barred doors"; "the blockaded harbor"

barred, barricaded

obstructed - shut off to passage or view or hindered from action; "a partially obstructed passageway"; "an obstructed view"; "justice obstructed is not justice"

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References in classic literature ?

He was blockaded in a tangled mess of vehicles and horses.

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It did not appear to be the duty of these two men to know what was occurring at the center of the bridge; they merely blockaded the two ends of the foot planking that traversed it.

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Thus, notwithstanding that a great many people continued to stare at the entry and the figures therein displayed; and remained there with great perseverance, by the hour at a time, to hear the barrel-organ played and to read the bills; and notwithstanding that they were kind enough to recommend their friends to patronise the exhibition in the like manner, until the door-way was regularly blockaded by half the population of the town, who, when they went off duty, were relieved by the other half; it was not found that the treasury was any the richer, or that the prospects of the establishment were at all encouraging.

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If the war was a naval one, you destroyed your enemy's battle fleet and then blockaded his ports, secured his coaling stations, and hunted down any stray cruisers that threatened your ports of commerce.

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The city was then blockaded, no provisions, cattle or horses, were allowed to enter; besides this, there was only a little skirmishing, and a few men daily killed.

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Hearing these words, the two shadows blockaded the road and by the light of the stars might be seen the shining of their arms.