persecution
pronunciation
How to pronounce persecution in British English:
UK [ˌpɜ:sɪ'kju:ʃn]
How to pronounce persecution in American English:
US [ˌpəsɪˈkjuʃən]
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- Noun:
- the act of persecuting (especially on the basis of race or religion)
Word Origin
- persecution (n.)
- mid-14c., "oppression for the holding of a belief or opinion," from Old French persecucion "persecution, damage, affliction, suffering" (12c.) and directly from Latin persecutionem (nominative persecutio), noun of action from past participle stem of persequi "follow, pursue, hunt down; proceed against, prosecute, start a legal action," from per- "through" (see per) + sequi "follow" (see sequel). Psychological persecution complex is recorded from 1961; earlier persecution mania (1892).
Synonym
Example
- 1. Mr diamond 's sense of persecution is not unfounded .
- 2. To fail is to risk persecution .
- 3. But their persecution has suddenly turned fervid .
- 4. The main unifier is a sense of persecution .
- 5. He suffered from persecution mania .