persecute Hear it!

persecute definition

per·secute (pʉr′sə kyo̵̅o̅t′)

transitive verb persecuted -·cut′ed, persecuting -·cut′·ing

  1. to afflict or harass constantly so as to injure or distress; oppress cruelly, esp. for reasons of religion, politics, or race
  2. to trouble or annoy constantly persecuted by mosquitoes

Etymology: LME persecuten < MFr persécuter, back-form. < persécuteur < L persecutor < persequi, to pursue < per, through + sequi, to follow: see sequent

Related Forms:

  • persecutive per′·secu′·tive adjective or persecutory per·secu·tory (pʉr′sə kyo̵̅o̅ tôr′ē, pər sek′yo̵̅o̅-)
  • persecutor per′·secu′·tor noun

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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