pursuit

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

Pursuit’s story begins in Latin: sequi meant “to follow.” To follow, combined with pro- (forward). Within Latin, it grew into prosequi by ancient. To follow forward, to chase, from pro- and sequi. From there it passed into Old French as porsuite by medieval. Carried into French for the act of chasing something. It reached English by 1300s as pursuit. Settled as the English word for the act of chasing or seeking something. Today, pursuit means the act of chasing or seeking something, or an activity one engages in.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sequi "to follow", to follow, combined with pro- (forward).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient prosequi "to follow forward, to chase", to follow forward, to chase, from pro- and sequi.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval porsuite "the act of chasing something", carried into French for the act of chasing something.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s pursuit "the act of chasing or seeking something", settled as the English word for the act of chasing or seeking something.