Etymologically
Log in

pursue

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 12:32. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pəˈsjuː/, /pəˈʃuː/ (UK); /pɚˈsu/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English pursiwen, pursuen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman pursuer and directly poursuir, a variant of porsivre (“to chase, pursue, carry on”),[2][3][4][5] from Vulgar Latin *prōsequere, from Latin prōsequī (“to follow after”) (see prosecute),[2][3] from pro- (“forward”) and sequī (“to follow”),[2][3] from PIE Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

To harass, torment or persecute: about 1280 in Barnhart, about 1290 in the OED,[2][6] the late 13th century in Etymonline, of following with hostile intent.[3]

Semantic evolution

To chase, follow or seek after is from about 1300.[2] To proceed along a path or course, usually figuratively, and to seek to obtain something are from the late 14th century, senses which Latin also had.[3] To continue or carry on an activity, and to follow a profession or hobby, follow from these.[7][8] Pursuit meant persecution in the 14th century;[4] pursuance is from 1596, in Bacon, and pursuant from 1691.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 1280 – to persecute.[2]
  • c. 1300 – to chase.[2]
  • late 14th century – to follow a course; to seek to obtain.[3]
  • 1596 – pursuance.[2]

Modern meaning

Verb

  1. To follow in order to catch; to chase.
  2. To strive to achieve or obtain: pursue a goal.
  3. To continue with or carry on: pursue an inquiry.
  4. To engage in a profession, activity or hobby.
  5. To try to start a relationship with someone; to court.

Word family

  • pursuable
  • pursuer
  • pursuance
  • repursue
  • unpursued
  • unpursuing

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  8. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins