To persecute
Example: Many groups were persecuted for their beliefs throughout history.
Definition
"To persecute" means to subject someone or a group to persistent hostility, oppression, or ill-treatment, especially because of their race, religion, or beliefs. It often involves systematic mistreatment and discrimination over a prolonged period of time.
Etymology
The word "to persecute" originates from the Latin word 'persequi,' meaning 'to pursue' or 'to follow closely.' Over time, it gained a more negative sense, referring to the act of pursuing someone with harmful intent. Did you know? The root 'sequi' means 'to follow,' so "to persecute" literally implies 'to follow through,' often with harmful persistence.
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"To persecute" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - History - (B2) - set 1", containing 210 commonly used words.
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