Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Pursue
Pur-sue′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Pursued
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Pursuing
.] [OE.
pursuen
, porsuen
, OF. porsivre
, poursuivre
, poursuir
, F. poursuivre
, fr. L. prosequi
; pro
forward + sequi
to follow. See Sue
, and cf. Prosecute
, Pursuivant
.] 1.
To follow with a view to overtake; to follow eagerly, or with haste; to chase;
as, to
. pursue
a hareWe happiness
pursue
; we fly from pain. Prior.
The happiness of men lies in
Not in possessing.
purswing
,Not in possessing.
Longfellow.
2.
To seek; to use or adopt measures to obtain;
as, to
. pursue
a remedy at lawThe fame of ancient matrons you
pursue
. Dryden.
3.
To proceed along, with a view to some and or object; to follow; to go in;
as, Captain Cook
pursued
a new route; the administration pursued
a wise course.4.
To prosecute; to be engaged in; to continue.
“ Insatiate to pursue vain war.” Milton.
5.
To follow as an example; to imitate.
6.
To follow with enmity; to persecute; to call to account.
The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have
pursued
me, they shall pursue
you also. Wyclif (John xv. 20).
Syn. – To follow; chase; seek; persist. See
Follow
. Pur-sue′
,Verb.
I.
1.
To go in pursuit; to follow.
The wicked flee when no man
pursueth
. Prov. xxviii. 1.
Men hotly
pursued
after the objects of their ambition. Earle.
2.
To go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue.
[A Gallicism]
I have,
pursues
Carneades, wondered chemists should not consider. Boyle.
3.
(Law)
To follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor.
Burrill.
Webster 1828 Edition
Pursue
PURSUE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To follow; to go or proceed after or in a like direction. The captain pursued the same course as former navigators have taken. A subsequent legislature pursued the course of their predecessors.2.
To take and proceed in, without following another. Captain Cook pursued a new and unexplored course. New circumstances often compel us to pursue new expedients and untried course. What course shall we pursue?3.
To follow with a view to overtake; to follow with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare; to pursue an enemy.4.
To seek; to use measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law.5.
To prosecute; to continue. A stream proceeds from a lake and pursues a southerly course to the ocean. He that pursueth evil, pursueth it to his own death. Prov.11.
6.
To follow as an example; to imitate. The fame of ancient matrons you pursue.
7.
To endeavor to attain to; to strive to reach or gain. We happiness pursue; we fly from pain.
8.
To follow with enmity; to persecute.This verb is frequently followed by after. Gen.35.
PURSUE
,Verb.
I.
I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chimists should not consider--
Definition 2024
pursue
pursue
English
Verb
pursue (third-person singular simple present pursues, present participle pursuing, simple past and past participle pursued)
- (obsolete, transitive) To follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment. [from 14th c.]
- (transitive) To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase. [from 14th c.]
- Wyclif Bible, John xv. 20
- The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued me, they shall pursue you also.
- 2009, Martin Chulov, ‘Iraqi shoe-thrower claims he suffered torture in jail’, The Guardian, 15 Sep 09:
- He now feared for his life, and believed US intelligence agents would pursue him.
- Wyclif Bible, John xv. 20
- (transitive) To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.). [from late 14th c.]
- Her rival pursued a quite different course.
- (transitive) To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.). [from late 14th c.]
- 2009, Benjamin Pogrund, ‘Freeze won't hurt Netanyahu’, The Guardian, 1 Dec 09:
- He even stands to gain in world terms: his noisy critics strengthen his projected image of a man determined to pursue peace with Palestinians.
- 2009, Benjamin Pogrund, ‘Freeze won't hurt Netanyahu’, The Guardian, 1 Dec 09:
- (transitive) To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession). [from 15th c.]
See also
Translations
to follow urgently
|
|
to travel down a particular way or course of action
to aim for
|
to participate in, practise (an activity, profession)