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persecute

 [pur-si-kyoot]   Example Sentences

per·se·cute

   [pur-si-kyoot]
verb (used with object), -cut·ed, -cut·ing.
1.
to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently.
2.
to annoy or trouble persistently.
Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English; back formation from persecutour persecutor ≪ Late Latin persecūtor orig. prosecutor, equivalent to persecū-, variant stem of persequī to prosecute, pursue closely (see per-, sequence) + -tor -tor

Related forms
per·se·cut·ing·ly, adverb
per·se·cu·tive, adjective
per·se·cu·tive·ness, noun
per·se·cu·tor, noun
per·se·cu·to·ry  [pur-si-kyoo-tuh-ree, -kyuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] , adjective
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non·per·se·cut·ing, adjective
non·per·se·cu·tive, adjective
non·per·se·cu·to·ry, adjective
o·ver·per·se·cute, verb (used with object), -cut·ed, -cut·ing.
un·per·se·cut·ed, adjective
un·per·se·cut·ing, adjective
un·per·se·cu·tive, adjective
COLLAPSE

Can be confused: persecute, prosecute.

Synonyms
1. afflict, torture, torment. 2. worry, badger, vex, bother, pester.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Persecute is one of our favorite verbs.
So is hornswoggle. Does it mean:
to bark; yelp.
to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax.
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Example Sentences
  • And I won't persecute you for offering it.
  • Let's try to be competent when we hunt and persecute.
  • And indigenous and business groups say it will enable the government to persecute uncooperative politicians and journalists.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
persecute (ˈpɜːsɪˌkjuːt)
 
—vb
1.  to oppress, harass, or maltreat, esp because of race, religion, etc
2.  to bother persistently
 
[C15: from Old French persecuter, back formation from persecuteur, from Late Latin persecūtor pursuer, from persequī to take vengeance upon]
 
'persecutive
 
—adj
 
'persecutor
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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