crusade

crusade
    n 1: a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward
         a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they
         worked in the cause of world peace"; "the team was ready
         for a drive toward the pennant"; "the movement to end
         slavery"; "contributed to the war effort" [syn: {campaign},
         {cause}, {crusade}, {drive}, {movement}, {effort}]
    2: any of the more or less continuous military expeditions in
       the 11th to 13th centuries when Christian powers of Europe
       tried to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims
    v 1: exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to
         gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or
         person; be an advocate for; "The liberal party pushed for
         reforms"; "She is crusading for women's rights"; "The Dean
         is pushing for his favorite candidate" [syn: {crusade},
         {fight}, {press}, {campaign}, {push}, {agitate}]
    2: go on a crusade; fight a holy war
    

Crusade \Cru*sade"\ (kr?-s?d"), n. [F. croisade, fr. Pr.
   crozada, or Sp cruzada, or It. crociata, from a verb
   signifying to take the cross, mark one's self with a cross,
   fr. L. crux cross; or possibly taken into English directly
   fr. Pr. Cf. {Croisade}, {Crosado}, and see {Cross}.]
   1. Any one of the military expeditions undertaken by
      Christian powers, in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries,
      for the recovery of the Holy Land from the Mohammedans.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Any enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm; as, a
      crusade against intemperance.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A Portuguese coin. See {Crusado}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Crusade \Cru*sade"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Crusaded}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Crusading}.]
   To engage in a crusade; to attack in a zealous or hot-headed
   manner. "Cease crusading against sense." --M. Green.
   [1913 Webster]
    

22 Moby Thesaurus words for "crusade":
      activity, battle, campaign, cause, commitment, drive, expedition,
      faith, fight, great cause, holy war, interest, issue, jehad, jihad,
      lifework, lobby, mass movement, movement, principle,
      reason for being, war