[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/prosecute/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / prosecute

# prosecute

verb (prosecute, prosecutes, prosecuted, prosecuting)

«prosecute» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (law) To officially accuse someone of a crime in a court of law and try to prove they are guilty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prosecute/#m1)
2. (formal) To carry on or continue something, such as a war or a plan, until it is finished. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prosecute/#m2)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prosecute/#x1)
- The police decided to prosecute the driver for speeding. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prosecute/#x2)
- He was prosecuted for stealing a car. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prosecute/#x3)
- The lawyer who prosecutes is called the prosecutor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prosecute/#x4)
- The sign said trespassers would be prosecuted. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prosecute/#x5)
- The general prosecuted the war for five years. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prosecute/#x6)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prosecute/#x1)

### 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.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «prosecute» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prosecute/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«prosecute» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/prosecute.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «prosecute» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prosecute/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«prosecute» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/prosecute.html) on Mova free.