Crossword Genius

Smite ogre occasionally participating in attack on fortress (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

siege

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'participating in attack on fortress' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'smite ogre occasionally' is the wordplay.
'occasionally' means one should take alternating letters (letters taken at regular intervals or occasions).
'smite'+'ogre'='smiteogre'
The alternating letters of 'smiteogre' are 'SIEGE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for siege that I've seen before include "Besetting" , "Offence in which fortified place is surrounded" , "Operation to surround and cut off supplies" , "Act of surrounding a town or fortress" , "Isolating attack" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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