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persecute

verb
/ˈpɝsəkjut/US/ˈpɜːsɪkjuːt/UK

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French persécuter, from Ecclesiastical Latin persecutor, from Latin persequor, persecutus (“follow up, pursue”), from per- (“through”) + sequor (“follow”) (English sequel). Compare prosecute. Cf. also pursue.

  1. derived from persequor
  2. derived from persecutor
  3. borrowed from persécuter

Definitions

  1. To pursue in a manner to do harm or cruelty to

    To pursue in a manner to do harm or cruelty to; especially, because of the victim's race, sexual identity, or adherence to a particular belief.

    • He who persecutes one will persecute all.
    • I have heard, brethren, how sharply Antichrist persecuteth you, in vexing the faithful servants of Christ with divers and strange kinds of afflictions.
    • "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

  2. To harass with importunity

    To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.

  3. To kill many of one species of animal, with the intent of removing them from human…

    To kill many of one species of animal, with the intent of removing them from human habitats.

    • Humans have been persecuting wolves in this forest for centuries.

The neighborhood

Derived

persecutee, persecutingly, unpersecuted

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for persecute. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA