Pursue
/pərˈsuː/noun
To follow or chase someone or something with intent to catch, achieve, or continue.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *prosequi*, literally “to follow after,” and the same root family gave English words like *sequence* and *consequence*—proof that even our language of destiny began as tracking footsteps.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sekw-
“to follow, pursue”
Latin
Latin
sequi
“to follow”
Latin
Latin
prosequi
“to follow after, accompany”
Old French
Old French
pursuivre
“to continue, chase, follow after”
Middle English
English
pursuen
“to chase, follow in order to catch”
Modern English
English
pursue
“to follow or chase with intent to catch or attain”
Explore more surprising origins