PURSUE

pursue, follow

(verb) follow in or as if in pursuit; ā€œThe police car pursued the suspected attackerā€; ā€œHer bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her lifeā€

prosecute, engage, pursue

(verb) carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in; ā€œShe pursued many activitiesā€; ā€œThey engaged in a discussionā€

pursue, follow up on, act on

(verb) carry further or advance; ā€œCan you act on this matter soon?ā€

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

pursue (third-person singular simple present pursues, present participle pursuing, simple past and past participle pursued)

(ambitransitive) To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase. [from 14th c.]

(transitive) To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.). [from late 14th c.]

(transitive) To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.). [from late 14th c.]

(transitive) To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession). [from 15th c.]

(intransitive) To act as a legal prosecutor.

Anagrams

• sure up

Source: Wiktionary


Pur*sue", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pursued; p. pr. & vb. n. Pursuing.] Etym: [OE. pursuen, porsuen, OF. porsivre, poursuivre, poursuir, F. poursuivre, fr. L. prosequi; pro forward + sequi to follow. See Sue, and cf. Prosecute, Pursuivant.]

1. To follow with a view to overtake; to follow eagerly, or with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare. We happiness pursue; we fly from pain. Prior. The happiness of men lies in purswing, Not in possessing. Longfellow.

2. To seek; to use or adopt measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law. The fame of ancient matrons you pursue. Dryden.

3. To proceed along, with a view to some and or object; to follow; to go in; as, Captain Cook pursued a new route; the administration pursued a wise course.

4. To prosecute; to be engaged in; to continue. " Insatiate to pursue vain war." Milton.

5. To follow as an example; to imitate.

6. To follow with enmity; to persecute; to call to account. The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued me, they shall pursue you also. Wyclif (John xv. 20).

Syn.

– To follow; chase; seek; persist. See Follow.

Pur*sue", v. i.

1. To go in pursuit; to follow. The wicked flee when no man pursueth. Prov. xxviii. 1. Men hotly pursued after the objects of their ambition. Earle.

2. To go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue.

Note: [A Gallicism] I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chemists should not consider. Boyle.

3. (Law)

Definition: To follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor. Burrill.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

22 February 2025

ANALYSIS

(noun) the use of closed-class words instead of inflections: e.g., ā€˜the father of the brideā€™ instead of ā€˜the brideā€™s fatherā€™


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