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| Date: | 1400-1500 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | persécuter, from Latin persecutus, past participle of persequi 'to pursue, follow' |
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per‧se‧cute
[transitive]
[transitive]1 to treat someone cruelly or unfairly over a period of time, especially because of their religious or political beliefs : 
The Puritans left England to escape being persecuted.
The Puritans left England to escape being persecuted.2 to deliberately cause difficulties for someone by annoying them often [= harass]: Like many celebrities, she complained of being persecuted by the press.
Like many celebrities, she complained of being persecuted by the press. —persecutor noun [countable]
—persecution noun [uncountable and countable] the persecution of writers who criticize the government
noun [uncountable and countable] the persecution of writers who criticize the government