Nearby Words
verb (used with object)
1.
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)
4.
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Prosecuting
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English prosecuten to follow up, go on with < Latin prōsecūtus, past participle of prōsequī to pursue, proceed with, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + secū-, variant stem of sequī to follow + -tus past participle suffix
1400–50; late Middle English prosecuten to follow up, go on with < Latin prōsecūtus, past participle of prōsequī to pursue, proceed with, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + secū-, variant stem of sequī to follow + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
pros·e·cut·a·ble, adjective
pros·e·cut·a·bil·i·ty, noun
non·pros·e·cut·a·ble, adjective
qua·si-pros·e·cut·ed, adjective
re·pros·e·cute, verb (used with object), -cut·ed, -cut·ing.
EXPANDwell-pros·e·cut·ed, adjective
COLLAPSESynonyms
3. perform, discharge, execute, conduct.
3. perform, discharge, execute, conduct.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To prosecuting
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
prosecute
early 15c., "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 1570s. Prosecutor in legal sense is attested from 1660s; prosecution in this sense is from 1630s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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