crusade

/kruːˈseɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /kruːˈseɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /krü-ˈsād/ (ame, mw)

crusade — noun

  • crusadesingular
  • crusadesplural

1. an organised effort carried out over a long period by a person or group who feel

1.名詞B2
釋義

an organised effort carried out over a long period by a person or group who feel strongly about a social, political, or moral issue

例句

Elena started a crusade against plastic waste and now leads monthly river clean-ups.

crusade + against + [issue]

The charity's crusade for clean drinking water has brought wells to more than fifty villages across the region.

同義詞
  • campaign

    a planned series of actions with a specific goal; less emotionally charged and more neutral than crusade

  • movement

    a larger, often looser group effort that grows organically; crusade is usually more focused and leader-driven

  • drive

    a short-term, energetic push toward a target; crusade implies longer commitment

文法句型

crusade + against + [issue]

crusade + for + [cause]

a crusade + to-infinitive

用法筆記

The word crusade implies strong moral conviction behind the effort. It is less commonly used for purely commercial or self-interested goals — a profit-driven marketing push would not be called a crusade.

常見錯誤

❌The company launched a crusade to sell more smartphones.
✅The company launched a campaign to sell more smartphones.
💡'crusade' is not appropriate for commercial profit-seeking; use 'campaign' for business marketing.
❌She went on a crusade to lose weight before summer.
✅She went on a health kick / started a fitness programme to lose weight.
💡'crusade' suggests a moral or social cause, not a personal goal.

2. any of the military campaigns in which European Christians fought against Muslim

2.名詞B1
釋義

any of the military campaigns in which European Christians fought against Muslim groups in the Middle East during the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, especially with the aim of taking Jerusalem

例句

The First Crusade began in 1096 and ended with the capture of Jerusalem three years later.

capitalised as a proper historical name

Historians disagree about what motivated ordinary Europeans to join the Crusades.

文法句型

the Crusades (historical period)

the First/Second/Third Crusade

用法筆記

When writing about the historical wars, use a capital C (the Crusades / a Crusade). In modern figurative use, the word is lowercased (a crusade against poverty). Be aware that using 'crusade' or 'crusader' in discussions involving the Middle East or Islam carries historical baggage and may be considered insensitive.

常見錯誤

❌The crusades were a series of religious wars.
✅The Crusades were a series of religious wars.
💡Capitalise when referring to the historical campaigns.

crusade — verb