Legal Dictionary
Main Entry:
pros·e·cutePronunciation:
'prä-si-"kyütFunction:
verbInflected Forms:
-cut·ed;
-cut·ingEtymology: Latin
prosecutus, past participle of
prosequi to pursue
transitive verb
1 : to institute and carry forward legal action against for redress or esp. punishment of a crime
2 : to institute and carry on a lawsuit with reference to
prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest —Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 17(a)> intransitive verb : to institute and carry on a civil or criminal action —pros·e·cut·able /"prä-si-'kyü-t&-b&l/ adjective