The Collaborative International Dictionary
Prosecute \Pros"e*cute\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prosecuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Prosecuting.] [L. prosecutus, p. p. of prosequi to follow, pursue. See Pursue.]
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To follow or pursue with a view to reach, execute, or accomplish; to endeavor to obtain or complete; to carry on; to continue; as, to prosecute a scheme, hope, or claim.
I am beloved Hermia; Why should not I, then, prosecute my right ?
--Shak. To seek to obtain by legal process; as, to prosecute a right or a claim in a court of law.
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(Law) To pursue with the intention of punishing; to accuse of some crime or breach of law, or to pursue for redress or punishment, before a legal tribunal; to proceed against judicially; as, to prosecute a man for trespass, or for a riot.
To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes.
--Milton.
Wiktionary
vb. (present participle of prosecute English)
Usage examples of "prosecuting".
The prosecuting attorney, who had seen Madeleine at M—sur M—, whither he had been called more than once by the duties of his office, recognised him and bowed likewise.
While the prosecuting attorney was speaking, the accused listened open-mouthed, with a sort of astonishment, not unmingled with admiration.
The prosecuting attorney pointed out to the jury this air of stupidity, which was evidently put on, and which denoted, not imbecility, but address, artifice, and the habit of deceiving justice.
He started like one awaking from sleep, cast his eyes around him, looked at the spectators, the gendarmes, his counsel, the jurors, and the court, placed his huge fists on the bar before him, looked around again, and suddenly fixing his eyes upon the prosecuting attorney, began to speak.
We granted him this permission, with the consent of the prosecuting attorney and the counsel of the accused.
The prosecuting attorney concluded by insisting that, in the absence of Javert, the three witnesses, Brevet, Chenildieu, and Cochepaille, should be heard anew and solemnly interrogated.
Before even the judge and prosecuting attorney could say a word, before the gendarmes and officers could make a sign, the man, whom all up to this moment had called Monsieur Madeleine, had advanced towards the witnesses, Cochepaille, Brevet, and Chenildieu.
Monsieur the prosecuting attorney knows where I am going, and will have me arrested when he chooses.
All of this was reported to Brent Davis, the district’s prosecuting attorney.
And again, the people most closely involved with the investigation—the two West Memphis detectives and prosecuting attorney Brent Davis—would also figure heavily in the murder case ahead.
Two days later, Gitchell wrote another frustrated letter, this one to John Fogleman, now the district’s deputy prosecuting attorney.
The psychiatrist informed Driver that he had spoken with Fogleman, the prosecuting attorney, “who was in agreement with Damien’s leaving the state.
He soon ran for and was elected prosecuting attorney for the Second Judicial District, and eight years later, in 1983, he was elected to the bench.
If reports on the Rolex case had been included, Lax and the defense teams would have learned that Byers had confessed to the crime—and that Fogleman’s boss, prosecuting attorney Brent Davis, had suggested that he not be prosecuted.
When the witness’s appearance failed to work out as he’d hoped, the deputy prosecuting attorney was, by one account, “furious.