Pursue

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: pur=sue

CIDE DICTIONARY

Pursue, v. t. [OE. pursuen, porsuen, OF. porsivre, poursuivre, poursuir, F. poursuivre, fr. L. prosequi; pro forward + sequi to follow. See Sue, and cf. Prosecute, Pursuivant.].

•  To follow with a view to overtake; to follow eagerly, or with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare.  [1913 Webster]

  "We happiness pursue; we fly from pain."  [1913 Webster]

  "The happiness of men lies in purswing,
  Not in possessing."  [1913 Webster]
•  To seek; to use or adopt measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law.  [1913 Webster]

  "The fame of ancient matrons you pursue."  [1913 Webster]
•  To proceed along, with a view to some and or object; to follow; to go in; as, Captain Cook pursued a new route; the administration pursued a wise course.  [1913 Webster]
•  To prosecute; to be engaged in; to continue.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
•  To follow as an example; to imitate.  [1913 Webster]
•  To follow with enmity; to persecute; to call to account.  [1913 Webster]

  "The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued me, they shall pursue you also."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To follow; chase; seek; persist. See Follow.

Pursue, v. i. 

•  To go in pursuit; to follow.  [1913 Webster]

  "The wicked flee when no man pursueth."  [1913 Webster]

  "Men hotly pursued after the objects of their ambition."  [1913 Webster]
•  To go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue.  [1913 Webster]

  "[A Gallicism]"  [1913 Webster]

  "I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chemists should not consider."  [1913 Webster]
•  To follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor.  Burrill.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Pursue, v. (pursues, pursued, pursuing)
1 tr. follow with intent to overtake or capture or do harm to.
2 tr. continue or proceed along (a route or course of action).
3 tr. follow or engage in (study or other activity).
4 tr. proceed in compliance with (a plan etc.).
5 tr. seek after, aim at.
6 tr. continue to investigate or discuss (a topic).
7 tr. seek the attention or acquaintance of (a person) persistently.
8 tr. (of misfortune etc.) persistently assail.
9 tr. persistently attend, stick to.
10 intr. go in pursuit.

Derivative

pursuable adj. pursuer n.

Etymology

ME f. AF pursiwer, -suer = OF porsivre etc. ult. f. L prosequi follow after

THESAURUS

Pursue

address, adhere to, angle for, ask for, aspire to, badger, bait, be into, be strong in, beat about for, beau, bedog, beset, carry on, chase, chase after, chevy, chivy, come after, come behind, conduct, confine, continue, court, cultivate, delve for, dig for, do, dog, employ, engage in, esquire, exercise, feature, fish for, follow, follow up, give chase, go after, go behind, go gunning for, go in for, gun for, harass, harry, heel, hollo after, hound, hunt, hunt for, hunt up, lay siege to, limit, look, look for, look up, maintain, major in, make after, make suit to, make up to, minor in, molest, move behind, narrow, oppress, pay attention to, pay court to, persecute, persevere, persist, persist in, practice, proceed with, prosecute, prowl after, purpose, quest, quest after, raise the hunt, restrict, ride, run after, run down, search, search for, see to, seek, seek for, seek out, serenade, shadow, spark, specialize, specialize in, squire, stalk, still-hunt, string along, strive for, sue, swain, sweetheart, tackle, tag, tag after, tag along, tail, tailgate, take on, take out after, take to, take up, torment, trace, track, trail, trail after, tread close upon, try for, try to find, undertake, use, victimize, wage, woo, work at, work for

ROGET THESAURUS

Pursue

Intention

VB intend, purpose, design, mean, have to, propose to oneself, harbor a design, have in view, have in contemplation, have in one's eye, have in petto, have an eye to, bid for, labor for, be after, aspire after, endeavor after, be at, aim at, drive at, point at, level at, aspire at, take aim, set before oneself, study to, take upon oneself, take into one's head, meditate, contemplate of, think of, dream of, talk of, premeditate, compass, calculate, destine, destinate, propose, project, have a mind to, desire, pursue.

Pursuit

VB pursue, prosecute, follow, run after, make after, be after, hunt after, prowl after, shadow, carry on, engage in, set about, endeavor, court, seek, aim at, follow the trail, fish for, press on, run a race, chase, give chase, course, dog, hunt, hound, tread on the heels, follow on the heels of, rush upon, rush headlong, ride full tilt at, run full tilt at, make a leap at, jump at, snatch at run down, start game, tread a path, take a course, hold a course, shape one's steps, direct one's steps, bend one's steps, course, play a game, fight one's way, elbow one's way, follow up, take to, take up, go in for, ride one's hobby.

Continuance in action

VB continue, persist, go on, jog on, keep on, run on, hold on, abide, keep, pursue, stick to its course, take its course, maintain its course, carry on, keep up, sustain, uphold, hold up, keep on foot, follow up, perpetuate, maintain, preserve, harp upon, keep going, keep alive, keep the pot boiling, keep up the ball, keep up the good work, die in harness, die with one's boots on, hold on the even tenor of one's way, pursue the even tenor of one's way, let be, stare super antiquas vias, quieta non movere, let things take their course, stare decisis (Jurisprudence).

Sequence

VB succeed, come after, come on, come next, follow, ensue, step into the shoes of, alternate, place after, suffix, append, follow, pursue, go after, fly after, attend, beset, dance attendance on, dog, tread in the steps of, tread close upon, be in the wake of, be in the trail of, be in the rear of, go in the wake of, go in the trail of, go in the rear of, follow in the wake of, follow in the trail of, follow in the rear of, follow as a shadow, hang on the skirts of, tread on the heels of, follow on the heels of, camp on the trail.

Approach

VB approach, approximate, appropinquate, near, get near, go near, draw near, come to close quarters, come near, move towards, set in towards, drift, make up to, gain upon, pursue, tread on the heels of, bear up, make the land, hug the shore, hug the land.

Inquiry

VB make inquiry, inquire, ask, seek, search, look for, look about for, look out for, scan, reconnoiter, explore, sound, rummage, ransack, pry, peer, look round, look over, go over, look through, go through, spy, overhaul, ask about, inquire about, scratch the head, slap the forehead, look into every hole and corner, peer into every hole and corner, pry into every hole and corner, nose, trace up, search out, hunt down, hunt out, fish out, ferret out, unearth, leave no stone unturned, seek a clue, seek a clew, hunt, track, trail, mouse, dodge, trace, follow the trail, follow the scent, pursue, beat up one's quarters, fish for, feel for, investigate, take up an inquiry, institute an inquiry, pursue an inquiry, follow up an inquiry, conduct an inquiry, carry on an inquiry, carry out an inquiry, prosecute an inquiry, look at, look into, preexamine, discuss, canvass, agitate, examine, study, consider, calculate, dip into, dive into, delve into, go deep into, make sure of, probe, sound, fathom, probe to the bottom, probe to the quick, scrutinize, analyze, anatomize, dissect, parse, resolve, sift, winnow, view in all its phases, try in all its phases, thresh out, bring in question, bring into question, subject to examination, put to the proof, audit, tax, pass in review, take into consideration, take counsel, question, demand, put the question, pop the question, propose the question, propound the question, moot the question, start the question, raise the question, stir the question, suggest the question, put forth the question, ventilate the question, grapple with the question, go into a question, question, put to the question, interrogate, pump, subject to interrogation, subject to examination, cross-question, cross-examine, press for an answer, give the third degree, put to the inquisition, dodge, catechize, require an answer, pick the brains of, suck the brains of, feel the pulse, get the lay of the land, see how the wind is blowing, put one's ear to the ground, be in question, undergo examination.