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Synonyms
Definition of persecute - 3 dictionary results
per⋅se⋅cute
[pur-si-kyoot] 
–verb (used with object), -cut⋅ed, -cut⋅ing.
| 1. | to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, esp. because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently. |
| 2. | to annoy or trouble persistently. |
Origin:
1400–50; late ME; back formation from persecutour persecutor ≪ LL persecūtor orig. prosecutor, equiv. to persecū-, var. s. of persequī to prosecute, pursue closely (see per-, sequence ) + -tor -tor
1400–50; late ME; back formation from persecutour persecutor ≪ LL persecūtor orig. prosecutor, equiv. to persecū-, var. s. 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
[pur-si-kyoo-tuh-ree, -kyuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] , adjective Synonyms:
1. afflict, torture, torment. 2. worry, badger, vex, bother, pester.
1. afflict, torture, torment. 2. worry, badger, vex, bother, pester.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To persecute
| per·se·cute (pûr'sĭ-kyōōt') tr.v. per·se·cut·ed, per·se·cut·ing, per·se·cutes
[Middle English, from Old French persecuter, back-formation from persecuteur, persecutor, from Late Latin persecūtor, from persecūtus, past participle of persequī, to persecute, from Latin, to pursue : per-, per- + sequī, to follow; see sekw-1 in Indo-European roots.] per'se·cu·tee' (-kyōō-tē') n., per'se·cu'tive, per'se·cu·to'ry (-kyŏŏ-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē, -kyōō'tə-rē) adj., per'se·cu'tor n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Persecute
Per"se*cute\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Persecuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Persecuting.] [F. pers['e]cueter, 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's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : persecute
Spanish:
perseguir; acosar, atormentar,
German:
verfolgen,
Japanese:
迫害する
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