persecute
verbUS /ˈpɝsəkjut/ · UK /ˈpɜːsɪkjuːt/
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
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.1563 March 30 (Gregorian calendar), John Foxe, Actes and Monuments of These Latter and Perillous Dayes, […], London: […] Iohn Day, […], →OCLC:
2 more examples
- "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 5:44:
- One of the village's most notable sons was Thomas Grantham, a Baptist church leader born in 1634, who was persecuted and imprisoned in the struggle for nonconformist beliefs during the reign of Charles II.1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 214, about Halton Holegate:
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.
- Derived terms
- persecutee, persecutingly, unpersecuted
- Related terms
- persecution, persecutable