prosecutor English · revision 15133

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1593|origins=la sequor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈprɒs.ɪ.kjuː.tə/, US /ˈprɑː.sɪ.kjuː.t̬ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-med|prōsecūtor]], which in Late Latin meant an escort of goods in transit,^(MWU 2024) an agent noun from [[la|prōsequor|t=to follow, pursue]] (see [[prosecute]]),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|prō-]] and [[m|la|sequor|t=to follow]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==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.^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A pursuer is an obsolete sense of 1607.^(OED 1989) The legal sense, one who brings a case in a court of law, is from the 1620s in Etymonline, 1670 in the OED;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) earlier such a person was a promoter (late 15th century).^(Etymonline) A malicious prosecutor, a persecutor, is an obsolete sense of 1704,^(OED 1989) and prosecutorship is from 1870.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1593 – one who carries something on.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1607 – a pursuer (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620s – a prosecutor in law.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1870 – prosecutorship.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person, especially a public official, who brings and conducts legal proceedings, especially in a criminal court.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # One who prosecutes something.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prosecutorial]]

+ * [[public prosecutor]]

+ * [[special prosecutor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prosecute]]

+ * [[prosecution]]

+ * [[persecute]]

+ * [[sequel]]

+ * [[pursue]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}