Etymologically
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prosequor

Etymology and origin of the Latin word prosequor

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (sequor)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈproː.sɛ.kʷɔr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈprɔː.s̬e.kʷor][1]

Forms

prōsequor (present infinitive prōsequī, perfect active prōsecūtus sum or prōsequūtus sum); third conjugation, deponent[1]

Etymology

It is from prō- “forward” and sequor “to follow”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of escorting.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to go along as an escort, accompany, as Cicero's escort of Diana's statue, to follow a funeral, follow with the eyes, as in Ovid, and to send someone on his way with gifts or prayers, as in Livy and Cicero.[2][5] It meant to honour with gifts or compliments, to accompany an action with a reaction, and of feelings to remain with someone.[2] From Caesar it meant to pursue, follow up, as an enemy, to follow up with further words, and in Virgil to go on, and to pursue a course or a subject.[2] Döderlein explains that comitārī is to accompany for one's own interest, dēdūcere out of friendship, and prōsequī out of esteem.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to follow, accompany, regard, pursue, persecute.[7] Through Old French poursuir it gave English pursue in the late 13th century, and its participle prōsecūtus gave English prosecute in the early 15th century.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of escorting.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of sending off and honouring.[2][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of pursuit.[2][4]
  • late 13th century – English pursue is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To escort, accompany; to follow with the eyes.[2]
  2. To send on one's way with gifts or prayers.[2]
  3. To honour with gifts or praise.[2]
  4. To pursue, follow up.[2]
  5. To go on; to pursue a course or subject.[2]
  6. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To persecute.[7]

Word family

  • prosecutio
  • prōsecūtor
  • prosecutoria
  • prōsequium
  • prōsecūtus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Prosequor.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/prosequor. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·