prosecution

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌpɹɒs.ɪˈkjuː.ʃən/ (UK); /ˌpɹɑ.sɪˈkju.ʃən/, /ˌpɹɒs.ɪˈkju.ʃən/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French prosecution (late 13th century) and directly from Late Latin prōsecūtiō, prōsecūtiōnem, a following, continuation, retinue,^[2][3] from prōsecūtus, past participle of prōsequī, to follow after, pursue, attack (see prosecute).^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The carrying out or following up of anything: 1567 in the OED, the 1560s in Etymonline;^[5][2] the effort to obtain a property or benefice from 1564.^[5]

Semantic evolution

A literal pursuit or chase (1567) is obsolete.^[5][2] The carrying on of an occupation is from 1631.^[5] The legal sense, the institution and carrying out of a suit at law, is from the 1630s,^[2] and hence the party who brings the proceedings from 1891.^[2]

Timeline

• 1564 – effort to obtain property.^[5]
• 1567 – following up, pursuit.^[5]
• 1630s – a legal proceeding.^[2]
• 1891 – the prosecuting party.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The institution and conduct of legal proceedings against someone charged with a crime.
2. The lawyers or party bringing such proceedings.
3. The act of carrying out or following through a course of action.

Word family

• nonprosecution

Related words

• persecution
• prosecute
• sequence
• prosecutor
• pursue

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press