chase

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To run after someone or something in order to catch them.

   The police officer chased the thief down the alley.

2. 2
   noun

   The act of running after someone or something to catch them.

   After a long chase through the streets, the dog was finally caught.

3. 3
   verb

   To try hard to get or achieve something.

   She spent years chasing her dream of becoming a writer.

4. 4
   noun

   The activity of hunting wild animals.

   In old times, nobles loved the thrill of the chase.

From Middle English chacen, from Anglo-Norman chacer, Old French chacier, from Vulgar Latin *captiāre, from Latin captāre, frequentative of capere. Compare French chasser (“to hunt”, “to chase”), Spanish cazar (“to hunt”), Portuguese caçar (“to hunt”) , see Norwegian skysse (“to hunt”). Doublet of catch and related to capture. Displaced native Old English ōht, ēhtnes, and wāþ. Broadly overtook Old English huntaþ.

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