Jump to content

persecute

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: persécuté and persécute

English

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

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.

Pronunciation

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

persecute (third-person singular simple present persecutes, present participle persecuting, simple past and past participle persecuted)

  1. 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.
  2. 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 habitats.
    Humans have been persecuting wolves in this forest for centuries.

Conjugation

[edit]

Synonyms

[edit]
[edit]

Translations

[edit]

References

[edit]

Latin

[edit]

Pronunciation

[edit]

Participle

[edit]

persecūte

  1. vocative masculine singular of persecūtus