per·se·cute [ púrssə kyt ](past and past participleper·se·cut·ed, present participleper·se·cut·ing, 3rd person present singularper·se·cutes)
transitive verb
Definition:
1. oppress people: to systematically subject a race or group of people to cruel or unfair treatment, e.g. because of their ethnic origin or religious beliefs
2. pester somebody: to make somebody the victim of continual pestering or harassment
[15th century. Via French< Latin persecut-, past participle of persequi "keep following" < sequi "follow"]
