English
pursuit
Pursuit comes from Old French porsuir ‘to pursue’, from Latin sequor ‘follow’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sekʷ-‘to follow’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sékʷetor‘to be following’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sekʷōr‘to follow, come/go after’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsequor‘follow’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprosequoras prosequor‘to pursue, follow’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*prosequerereconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400porsuir‘to pursue’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400poursuite
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500pursuyte
- Englishearliest quotation 1655pursuit
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sekʷ-‘to follow’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sékʷetor‘to be following’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sekʷōr‘to follow, come/go after’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsequor‘follow’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprosequoras prosequor‘to pursue, follow’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*prosequerereconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400porsuir‘to pursue’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400poursuite
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500pursuyte
- Englishearliest quotation 1655pursuit
Earliest quotation: 1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […]: “That pursuit for tithes ought, and of ancient time…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- ‘to follow’
see, say, second, social, saw, society, executive, sight, associate, subsequent, consequence, consequently, sue, saga, intrinsic, suite, sequential, sequestration, dissociation, extrinsic, sequester, dissociate, seg, 32 more
through Latin sequor ‘follow’
sequence, consecutive, sequel, execute, persecution, sect, consequent, executor, ensue, persecute, segue, suitor, sequitur, 18 more
through Latin prosequor ‘to pursue, follow’
Today it means
noun The act of pursuing.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- / pursuit