persecute

per·se·cute  (pûrs-kyt)

tr.v. per·se·cut·ed, per·se·cut·ing, per·se·cutes

1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs.

2. To annoy persistently; bother.

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[Middle English, from Old French persecuter, back-formation from persecuteur, persecutor, from Late Latin persector, from persectus, past participle of persequ, to persecute, from Latin, to pursue : per-, per- + sequ, to follow; see sek^w-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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perse·cu·tee (-ky-t) n.

perse·cutive, perse·cu·tory (-ky-tôr, -tr, -kyt-r) adj.

perse·cutor n.

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persecute

Verb

[-cuting, -cuted]

1. to oppress or maltreat (someone), because of race or religion

2. to harass (someone) persistently [Latin persequi to take vengeance upon]

persecution n
persecutor n

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

persecute - cause to suffer; "Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union" oppress bedevil, dun, rag, torment, frustrate, crucify - treat cruelly; "The children tormented the stuttering teacher" purge - oust politically; "Deng Xiao Ping was purged several times throughout his lifetime"

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persecute

verb 1. victimize, hunt, injure, pursue, torture, hound, torment, martyr, oppress, pick on, molest, ill-treat, maltreat << OPPOSITE mollycoddle

verb 2. harass, bother, annoy, bait, tease, worry, hassle (informal) badger, pester, vex, be on your back (slang) << OPPOSITE leave alone

Translations

persecute [ˈpəːsɪkjuːt] vt (= pursue) → perseguir (= harass); acosar

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persecute [ˈpəːsɪkjuːt] vt → persécuter

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persecute [ˈpəːsɪkjuːt] vt → verfolgen

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persecute [ˈpəːsɪkjuːt] vt → perseguitare