pursue

Where does the word "pursue" come from? It comes from Latin prosequi, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Pursue’s story begins in Latin: prosequi meant “to follow forward.” To follow forward, to accompany, from pro- (forward) and sequi (to follow). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pursuer. Carried into French for chasing after something. It reached English by 1300s as pursue. Settled as the English word for following someone or something to catch it. Today, pursue means to follow someone or something in order to catch them, or to strive toward a goal.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient prosequi "to follow forward", to follow forward, to accompany, from pro- (forward) and sequi (to follow).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval pursuer "to chase after something", carried into French for chasing after something.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s pursue "to follow someone or something to catch or achieve it", settled as the English word for following someone or something to catch it.