First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
prosecute
verb pros·e·cute \ˈprä-si-ˌkyüt\
law : to hold a trial against a person who is accused of a crime to see if that person is guilty
: to work as a lawyer to try to prove a case against someone accused of a crime
: to continue to do (something) : to proceed with (something)
pros·e·cut·edpros·e·cut·ing
Full Definition of PROSECUTE
transitive verb
1
: to follow to the end : pursue until finished <prosecute a war>
2
: to engage in : perform
3
a : to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law b : to institute legal proceedings with reference to <prosecute a claim>
intransitive verb
: to institute and carry on a legal suit or prosecution
— pros·e·cut·able \ˌprä-sə-ˈkyü-tə-bəl\ adjective
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See prosecute defined for kids
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Origin of PROSECUTE
Middle English, from Latin prosecutus, past participle of prosequi to pursue — more at pursue
Related to PROSECUTE
- Synonyms
- accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, commit, compass, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill (or fulfil), make, negotiate, perpetrate, perform, pull off, put through
Rhymes with PROSECUTE
absolute, Aleut, arrowroot, Asyût, attribute, autoroute, bandicoot, bathing suit, birthday suit, bitterroot, bodysuit, boilersuit, bumbershoot, business suit, comminute, constitute, contribute, convolute, destitute, disrepute, dissolute, execute, follow suit, gingerroot, hot pursuit, institute, involute, kiwifruit, leisure suit, malamute, overshoot, parachute, passion fruit, persecute, point-and-shoot, prostitute, qiviut, resolute, restitute, revolute, run-and-shoot, rural route, subacute, substitute, troubleshoot, undershoot
PROSECUTE Defined for Kids
prosecute
verb pros·e·cute \ˈprä-si-ˌkyüt\
pros·e·cut·edpros·e·cut·ing
Definition of PROSECUTE for Kids
1
: to carry on a legal action against an accused person to prove his or her guilt
2
: to follow up to the end : keep at <prosecute a war>
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