persecute

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈpɝsəkjut/ UK /ˈpɜːsɪkjuːt/ See IPA manual

Freq #27766

Meanings

1

verb
To treat someone cruelly or unfairly over a long period, especially because of their race, religion, or beliefs.

Many families fled the country after being persecuted for their faith.
2

verb
To keep annoying or harassing someone persistently.

Reporters persecuted the actress with endless questions about her divorce.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to treat someone cruelly or... oppress harass distress

2 verb · to keep annoying or... annoy

Word family

Forms persecutedpersecutespersecutingpersecutor

Derived forms persecuteepersecutinglyunpersecuted

Related forms persecutablepersecution

Simplified etymology

Persecute entered English in the late Middle English period from a Latin formation meaning “to follow with hostility.” Its root is Latin sequi “to follow,” also found in second, sect, and sequel.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French persécuter, from Ecclesiastical Latin persecutor, from Latin persequor, persecutus (“follow up, pursue”), from per- (“through”) + sequor (“follow”) (English sequel). Compare prosecute. Cf. also pursue.

*sekʷ- Proto-Indo-European persécuter Middle French persecutor la-ecc persequor Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# persecute

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɝsəkjut/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɜːsɪkjuːt/
**Frequency rank:** 27766

## Meanings
1. To treat someone cruelly or unfairly over a long period, especially because of their race, religion, or beliefs.
2. To keep annoying or harassing someone persistently.

## Examples
- Many families fled the country after being persecuted for their faith.
- Reporters persecuted the actress with endless questions about her divorce.

## Derived Forms
- persecutee
- persecutingly
- unpersecuted

## Related Forms
- persecutable
- persecution

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *sekʷ-
- Root: persécuter
- Root: persecutor
- Root: persequor

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French persécuter, from Ecclesiastical Latin persecutor, from Latin persequor, persecutus (“follow up, pursue”), from per- (“through”) + sequor (“follow”) (English sequel). Compare prosecute. Cf. also pursue.

## AI Etymology
Persecute is borrowed from Middle French persécuter, from Ecclesiastical Latin persecutor, from Latin persequor, persecutus (“follow up, pursue”), from per- (“through”) + sequor (“follow”) (English sequel). Compare prosecute. Cf. also pursue. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it can mean to treat someone cruelly or unfairly over a long period, especially because of their race, religion, or beliefs, or to keep annoying or harassing someone persistently. Related forms include persecutable, persecution. Derived formations include persecutee, persecutingly, unpersecuted.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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