Meanings
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1
verb
To officially accuse someone of a crime and try them in court.
The state prosecuted him for theft.
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2
verb
To conduct a legal case against someone in court.
A government lawyer was appointed to prosecute the case.
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3
verb
To continue with an activity or plan in order to complete it.
They prosecuted the investigation for several months.
Thesaurus
Word family
Forms
prosecutedprosecutesprosecuting
Derived forms
misprosecutenonprosecutedoverprosecuteprosecutabilityprosecutableprosecuteeprosecutionprosecutivereprosecuteunprosecuted
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin prōsecūtus, perfect participle of prōsequor. Doublet of pursue, from Old French. Compare also persecute.
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