Prosecute - Definitions from Dictionary.com

7 results for: Prosecute

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pros·e·cute

Audio Help [pros-i-kyoot] Pronunciation Key verb, -cut·ed, -cut·ing.

–verb (used with object)

Law.

a.	to institute legal proceedings against (a person).

b.	to seek to enforce or obtain by legal process.

c.	to conduct criminal proceedings in court against.

2.	to follow up or carry forward something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion: to prosecute a war.

3.	to carry on or practice.

–verb (used without object)

Law.

a.	to institute and carry on a legal prosecution.

b.	to act as prosecutor.

[Origin: 1400–50; late ME prosecuten to follow up, go on with < L prōsecūtus, ptp. of prōsequī to pursue, proceed with, equiv. to prō- pro-¹ + secū-, var. s. of sequī to follow + -tus ptp. suffix

]

—Related forms

pros·e·cut·a·ble, adjective

pros·e·cut·a·bil·i·ty, noun

—Synonyms 3. perform, discharge, execute, conduct.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Prosecute

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pros·e·cute Audio Help   (prŏs'ĭ-kyōōt') Pronunciation Key
v.   pros·e·cut·ed, pros·e·cut·ing, pros·e·cutes

v.   tr.

Law
1. To initiate civil or criminal court action against.
2. To seek to obtain or enforce by legal action.
3. To pursue (an undertaking, for example) until completion; follow to the very end.
4. To chase or pursue (a vessel): "He held a dispatch saying that [they] had prosecuted and probably killed an Echo-class missile submarine" (Tom Clancy).
1. To pursue (an undertaking, for example) until completion; follow to the very end.
2. To chase or pursue (a vessel): "He held a dispatch saying that [they] had prosecuted and probably killed an Echo-class missile submarine" (Tom Clancy).
To carry on, engage in, or practice.

v. intr. Law

To initiate and conduct legal proceedings.
To act as prosecutor.

[Middle English prosecuten, from Latin prōsequī, prōsecūt- : prō-, forward; see pro-¹ + sequī, to follow; see sek^w-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

pros'e·cut'a·ble adj.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
prosecute

1432, "follow up, pursue" (some course or action), from L. prosecutus, pp. of prosequi "follow after" (see pursue). Meaning "bring to a court of law" is first recorded 1579. Prosecutor in legal sense is attested from 1670; prosecution in this sense is from 1631.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

prosecute
verb
1.	conduct a prosecution in a court of law
2.	bring a criminal action against (in a trial); "The State of California prosecuted O.J. Simpson" [ant: defend]
3.	carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in; "She pursued many activities"; "They engaged in a discussion"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
prosecute [ˈprosikjuːt] verb

to bring a legal action against
Example: He was prosecuted for theft.

Arabic:	يُقاضي
Chinese (Simplified):	对…起诉
Chinese (Traditional):	對…起訴
Czech:	soudně stíhat
Danish:	anklage
Dutch:	gerechtelijk vervolgen
Estonian:	kohtulikule vastutusele võtma
Finnish:	asettaa syytteeseen
French:	poursuivre
German:	belangen
Greek:	διώκω ποινικά, μηνύω
Hungarian:	vádat emel vki ellen
Icelandic:	fara í mál
Indonesian:	menuntut
Italian:	perseguire

Japanese:	起訴する
Korean:	기소하다
Latvian:	ierosināt lietu (tiesā)
Lithuanian:	patraukti baudžiamojon atsakomybėn
Norwegian:	reise tiltale mot
Polish:	ścigać sądownie, wnosić oskarżenie (przeciwko)
Portuguese (Brazil):	processar
Portuguese (Portugal):	processar
Romanian:	a urmări în justiţie
Russian:	возбуждать (уголовное) дело
Slovak:	súdne stíhať
Slovenian:	tožiti
Spanish:	procesar, enjuiciar
Swedish:	åtala
Turkish:	dava etmek, *açmak, kovuşturma açmak

See also: prosecution, prosecutor

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Prosecute

Pros"e*cute\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prosecuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Prosecuting.] [L. prosecutus, p. p. of prosequi to follow, pursue. See Pursue.]

1. To follow or pursue with a view to reach, execute, or accomplish; to endeavor to obtain or complete; to carry on; to continue; as, to prosecute a scheme, hope, or claim.

I am beloved Hermia; Why should not I, then, prosecute my right ? --Shak.

2. To seek to obtain by legal process; as, to prosecute a right or a claim in a court of law.

3. (Law) To pursue with the intention of punishing; to accuse of some crime or breach of law, or to pursue for redress or punishment, before a legal tribunal; to proceed against judicially; as, to prosecute a man for trespass, or for a riot.

To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes. --Milton.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Prosecute

Pros"e*cute\, v. i. 1. To follow after. [Obs.] --Latimer.

2. (Law) To institute and carry on a legal prosecution; as, to prosecute for public offenses. --Blackstone.

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