entry
persecution
/ˌpɝːsɪˈkjuːʃən/Systematic mistreatment directed at a person or group
From Latin per- (through) + Latin sequor (to follow or pursue).
from Old French persecucion "persecution, damage, affliction, suffering" (12c.) and directly
+1 more sourcefrom Old French persecucion "persecution, damage, affliction, suffering" (12c.) and directly
+1 more sourcefrom Latin persequor (“follow up, pursue”)
from Latin persequor (“follow up, pursue”)
from Old French persecucion "persecution, damage, affliction, suffering" (12c.) and directly
+1 more sourcefrom Middle English persecucioun
from Latin persecutionem (nominative persecutio ), noun of action
from Old French persecucion "persecution, damage, affliction, suffering" (12c.) and directly
+1 more sourcefrom Middle English persecucioun
from Latin persecutionem (nominative persecutio ), noun of action
Word Ancestry
from Old French persecucion "persecution, damage, affliction, suffering" (12c.) and directly
+1 more sourcefrom Old French persecucion "persecution, damage, affliction, suffering" (12c.) and directly
+1 more sourcefrom Latin persequor (“follow up, pursue”)
from Latin persequor (“follow up, pursue”)
from Old French persecucion "persecution, damage, affliction, suffering" (12c.) and directly
+1 more sourcefrom Middle English persecucioun
from Latin persecutionem (nominative persecutio ), noun of action
from Old French persecucion "persecution, damage, affliction, suffering" (12c.) and directly
+1 more sourcefrom Middle English persecucioun
from Latin persecutionem (nominative persecutio ), noun of action
Picture a Roman official pursuing someone down a road—not necessarily with a sword, but with a legal summons, an accusation, or a case brought before the court. That is the force of Latin persequi: per-, “through,” joined to sequi, “to follow,” producing the image of following someone all the way to the bitter end. In medieval French and English, this pursuit acquired a darker target: people harassed or punished for their beliefs, giving us Old French persecucion and Middle English persecucioun. The word’s cousin pursue still sounds relatively harmless, while prosecute preserves the same relentless courtroom chase. The familiar psychological phrase persecution complex appeared in 1961, though persecution mania was already being used by 1892. Remember it as a chase that refuses to stop—when pursuit becomes organized cruelty, it has crossed into persecution.
The Story
Picture a Roman official pursuing someone down a road—not necessarily with a sword, but with a legal summons, an accusation, or a case brought before the court. That is the force of Latin persequi: per-, “through,” joined to sequi, “to follow,” producing the image of following someone all the way to the bitter end. In medieval French and English, this pursuit acquired a darker target: people harassed or punished for their beliefs, giving us Old French persecucion and Middle English persecucioun. The word’s cousin pursue still sounds relatively harmless, while prosecute preserves the same relentless courtroom chase. The familiar psychological phrase persecution complex appeared in 1961, though persecution mania was already being used by 1892. Remember it as a chase that refuses to stop—when pursuit becomes organized cruelty, it has crossed into persecution.
Kin & Kindred
From 'per-'·through; forward; toward
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From 'sequor'·to follow or pursue
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From '-ion'·an action, process, or resulting state
Derived Terms
English words from this root