persecute

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per·se·cute / ˈpərsəˌkyoōt/ • v. [tr.] (often be persecuted) subject (someone) to hostility and ill-treatment, esp. because of their race or political or religious beliefs: Jews who had been persecuted by the Nazi regime. ∎  harass or annoy (someone) persistently: Hilda was persecuted by some of the other girls.DERIVATIVES: per·se·cu·tion / ˌpərsəˈkyoōshən/ n.per·se·cu·tor / -ˌkyoōtər/ n.per·se·cu·to·ry / -kyoŏˌtôrē/ adj.

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