prosecute

Everyday

1. (law) To officially accuse someone of a crime in a court of law and try to prove they are guilty. tree →
2. (formal) To carry on or continue something, such as a war or a plan, until it is finished. tree →

In the lessons

In law and citizenship lessons: the police or state (the prosecution) prosecute a person accused of a crime; the defence argues for them; the judge or jury decides. Signs warn: «Trespassers will be prosecuted». History books say a country «prosecuted the war».

Examples

• Shoplifters will be prosecuted. tree →
• The police decided to prosecute the driver for speeding. tree →
• He was prosecuted for stealing a car. tree →
• The lawyer who prosecutes is called the prosecutor. tree →
• The sign said trespassers would be prosecuted. tree →
• The general prosecuted the war for five years. tree →

Note

Regular verb. Related: prosecution, prosecutor. Common trap: «prosecute» (take to court) and «persecute» (treat cruelly, especially for beliefs) sound alike but mean very different things.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: In the later reading, Satan is the accuser who appears before God against humans. Tradition pictures him as a heavenly prosecutor who points out sins. In the primary lessons: In law and citizenship lessons: the police or state (the prosecution) prosecute a person accused of a crime; the defence argues for them; the judge or jury decides. Signs warn: «Trespassers will be prosecuted». History books say a country «prosecuted the war».

Examples

• The angel which the cipher n symbolizes, is apparently Satan ]r:z', who appears before God to prosecute all mortal beings as he prosecuted (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Regular verb. Related: prosecution, prosecutor. Common trap: «prosecute» (take to court) and «persecute» (treat cruelly, especially for beliefs) sound alike but mean very different things.