Beleaguers English male with hostile encounters (9)

I believe the answer is:

embattles

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'beleaguers' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'english male with hostile encounters' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'hostile encounters' becomes 'battles' (I've seen this in another clue).
'e'+'m'+'battles'='EMBATTLES'

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app