persecution

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The act of persecuting, especially a specific group of people; an instance of persecution.

   Many apartheid perpetrators escaped prosecution for their persecution of black Africans and political dissidents.

2. 2
   noun

   the act of persecuting (especially on the basis of race or religion)

Etymology

Equivalent to persecute + -ion. From Middle English persecucioun, from Old French persecucion, from Ecclesiastical Latin persecūtio (“persecution; chase, pursuit”), from Latin persequor (“follow up, pursue”), from per- (“through”) + sequor (“follow”). Displaced native Old English ēhtnes.