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Webster 1913 Edition


Persecute

Per′se-cute

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Persecuted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Persecuting
.]
[F.
persécueter
, L.
persequi
,
persecutus
, to pursue, prosecute;
per + sequi
to follow, pursue. See
Per-
, and
Second
.]
1.
To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death, for adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship.
Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute
you.
Matt. v. 44.
2.
To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.
Johnson.
Syn. – To oppress; harass; distress; worry; annoy.

Webster 1828 Edition


Persecute

PER'SECUTE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. persequor; per and sequor, to pursue. See Seek and Essay.]
1.
In a general sense, to pursue in a manner to injure, vex or afflict; to harass with unjust punishment or penalties for supposed offenses; to inflict pain from hatred or malignity.
2.
Appropriately, to afflict, harass, or destroy for adherence to a particular creed or system of religious principles, or to a mode of worship. Thus Nero persecuted the Christians by crucifying some, burning others, and condemning others to be worried by dogs. See Acts.22.
3.
To harass with solicitations or importunity.

Definition 2024


persecute

persecute

See also: persécuté and persécute

English

Verb

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

  1. To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death for one's race, sexual identity, adherence to a particular religious creed, or mode of worship.
    "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." – Matt. 5:44.
  2. To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations

References


Latin

Participle

persecūte

  1. vocative masculine singular of persecūtus