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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Pursue


PURSUE, verb transitive [Latin sequor; prosequor, or persequor. See Seek.]

1. To follow; to go or proceed after or in a like direction. The captain pursued the same course as former navigators have taken. A subsequent legislature pursued the course of their predecessors.

2. To take and proceed in, without following another. Captain Cook pursued a new and unexplored course. New circumstances often compel us to pursue new expedients and untried course. What course shall we pursue?

3. To follow with a view to overtake; to follow with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare; to pursue an enemy.

4. To seek; to use measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law.

5. To prosecute; to continue. A stream proceeds from a lake and pursues a southerly course to the ocean.

He that pursueth evil, pursueth it to his own death. Proverbs 11:1.

6. To follow as an example; to imitate.

The fame of ancient matrons you pursue

7. To endeavor to attain to; to strive to reach or gain.

We happiness pursue; we fly from pain.

8. To follow with enmity; to persecute.

This verb is frequently followed by after. Genesis 35:5.

PURSUE, verb intransitive To go on; to proceed; to continue; a Gallicism.

I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chimists should not consider--