Definitions for persecute
ˈpɜr sɪˌkyutper·se·cute

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. persecute, oppressverb

   cause to suffer

   "Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union"

WiktionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. persecuteverb

   To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death for one's race, sexual identity, adherence to a particular religious creed, or mode of worship.

   "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matt. 5:44.

2. persecuteverb

   To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.

3. Etymology: From persécuter, from persequor, from (English sequel). Compare prosecute.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To PERSECUTEverb

   Etymology: persecuter, Fr. persecutus, Lat.

   1. To harrass with penalties; to persue with malignity. It is generally used of penalties inflicted for opinions.

   I persecuted this way unto the death. Acts xxii. 4.

   2. To persue with repeated acts of vengeance or enmity.

   They might have fallen down, being persecuted of vengeance, and scattered abroad. Wisdom xi. 20.

   Relate,
   For what offence the queen of heav’n began
   To persecute so brave, so just a man! Dryden.

   3. To importune much: as, he persecutes me with daily solicitations.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. persecute

   Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another individual or group. The most common forms are religious persecution, racism, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. The inflicting of suffering, harassment, imprisonment, internment, fear or pain are all factors that may establish persecution, but not all suffering will necessarily establish persecution. The threshold of severity has been a source of much debate.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Persecuteverb

   to pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death, for adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship

2. Persecuteverb

   to harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Persecute

   pėr′se-kūt, v.t. to pursue so as to injure or annoy: to follow after persistently: to annoy or punish, esp. for religious or political opinions.—ns. Persecū′tion, act or practice of persecuting: state of being persecuted: a time of general oppression on account of religious opinions; Per′secūtor:—fem. Per′secūtrix. [Fr.,—L. persequi, persecutus—per, thoroughly, sequi, to follow.]

How to pronounce persecute?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say persecute in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of persecute in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of persecute in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of persecute in a Sentence

1. Irving Kristol:

   The danger facing American Jews today is not that Christians want to persecute them but that Christians want to marry them.

2. Sigmund Freud:

   It is a great injustice to persecute homosexuality as a crime, and cruelty too.

3. Edmund Burke:

   In doing good, we are generally cold, and languid, and sluggish; and of all things afraid of being too much in the right. But the works of malice and injustice are quite in another style. They are finished with a bold, masterly hand; touched as they are with the spirit of those vehement passions that call forth all our energies, whenever we oppress and persecute.

4. Prime Minister David Cameron:

   I want British Muslims to know we will back them to stand against those who spread hate and to counter the narrative which says Muslims do not feel British, i want police to take more action against those who persecute others simply because of their religion.

5. Ralph Waldo Emerson:

   Universities are of course hostile to geniuses, which, seeing and using ways of their own, discredit the routine as churches and monasteries persecute youthful saints.

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