動詞 persecute:

1. cause to suffer
   同義詞：oppress

1. The two parties disprove the theory of the other, but unite in persecute the dissenter.
   盡管這兩黨各自不同意它黨的理論，在迫害持異議者這一點上卻是一致的。
2. They came to America after being persecuted for their religious beliefs.
   他們是在他們因宗教信仰而受到迫害之后來到美洲的。
3. He persecuted me with various delicate questions.
   他用種種微妙的問題把我難倒了。

per.se.cute

v.tr.（及物動詞）
per.se.cut.ed,per.se.cut.ing,per.se.cutes
To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, sexual orientation, or beliefs.
虐待，殘害；迫害：虐待地壓迫或折磨，特別是因為種族、宗教、性的傾向或信仰
To annoy persistently; bother.
不斷地困擾；煩擾

來源：
Middle English
中古英語
from Old French persecuter
源自 古法語 persecuter
back-formation from persecuteur [persecutor]
源自 persecuteur的逆構詞 [迫害者，虐待者]
from Late Latin persecôtor
源自 后期拉丁語 persecôtor
from persecôtus [past participle of] persequo [to persecute]
源自 persecôtus [] persequo的過去分詞 [迫害，困擾]
from Latin [to pursue]
源自 拉丁語 [不斷地折磨，糾纏]
per- [per-]
per- [前綴，表示.通過，極，完全.等意]
sequo [to follow] * see sek w-
sequo [跟隨，追蹤] *參見 sek w-

【引伸】
per.secutee.
per.secu.tive 或
per.secuto.ry
per.secu.tor
n.（名詞）