# persecute

Pronunciation: US say "PUR-suh-kyoot" /ˈpɝsəkjut/; UK say "PUR-si-kyoot" /ˈpɜːsɪkjuːt/

## Verb

1. To pursue someone in order to harm them or treat them cruelly, especially because of their race, sexual identity or beliefs.
   - Simple: To keep hurting or treating people cruelly, especially because of who they are or what they believe.
   - _The regime persecuted journalists who criticized the government, jailing many without trial._
   - _Laws that persecute people for their sexuality remain on the books in some countries._
2. To harass or annoy someone by pressing requests or demands on them again and again.
   - Simple: To bother someone again and again, especially by asking them for things.
   - _Reporters persecuted the reluctant witness with calls and letters until she agreed to an interview._
   - _Some charities persecute past donors with appeals until they stop giving altogether._
3. To kill large numbers of one species of animal, with the aim of removing it from areas where people live.
   - Simple: To kill many animals of one kind to get rid of them from places where people live.
   - _Hawks and eagles were persecuted for decades by ranchers who saw them as a threat to livestock._
   - _Conservationists are trying to stop gamekeepers who persecute birds of prey on hunting estates._

## Origin

Borrowed from Middle French persécuter, from Ecclesiastical Latin persecutor, from Latin persequor, persecutus ("follow up, pursue"), from per- ("through") + sequor ("follow"), the root of English sequel. Compare prosecute and pursue.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/persecute (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).