prosecutor

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈprɒs.ɪ.kjuː.tə/, US /ˈprɑː.sɪ.kjuː.t̬ɚ/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Medieval Latin prōsecūtor, which in Late Latin meant an escort of goods in transit,^[2] an agent noun from Latin prōsequor (“to follow, pursue”) (see prosecute),^[3][2] from prō- and sequor (“to follow”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

One who follows up or carries on a purpose or action: 1593 in Merriam-Webster, the 1590s in Etymonline, 1599 in the OED.^[2][3][4]

Semantic evolution

A pursuer is an obsolete sense of 1607.^[4] The legal sense, one who brings a case in a court of law, is from the 1620s in Etymonline, 1670 in the OED;^[3][4] earlier such a person was a promoter (late 15th century).^[3] A malicious prosecutor, a persecutor, is an obsolete sense of 1704,^[4] and prosecutorship is from 1870.^[4]

Timeline

• 1593 – one who carries something on.^[2]
• 1607 – a pursuer (obsolete).^[4]
• 1620s – a prosecutor in law.^[3]
• 1870 – prosecutorship.^[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A person, especially a public official, who brings and conducts legal proceedings, especially in a criminal court.
2. One who prosecutes something.

Word family

• prosecutorial
• public prosecutor
• special prosecutor

Related words

• prosecute
• prosecution
• persecute
• sequel
• pursue

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press