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Webster 1913 Edition
Persecute
Per′se-cute
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Persecuted
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Persecuting
.] 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.
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
English
Verb
persecute (third-person singular simple present persecutes, present participle persecuting, simple past and past participle persecuted)
- 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.
- To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.
Synonyms
Related terms
Translations
to pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict
to harass with importunity
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