a. [ F. pers. ] Light blue; grayish blue; -- a term applied to different shades at different periods. -- n. A cloth of sky-blue color. [ Obs. ] “A long surcoat of pers.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A term formerly given to the salts supposed to be formed respectively by neutralizing acids with certain peroxides. [ Obsoles. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. perçant, p. pr. of percer to pierce. ] Piercing. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. perscrutatio, fr. perscrutari to search through. ] A thorough searching; a minute inquiry or scrutiny. Carlyle [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Persicot. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Persecuted p. pr. & vb. n. Persecuting. ] [ F. persécueter, L. persequi, persecutus, to pursue, prosecute; per + sequi to follow, pursue. See Per-, and Second. ] 1. To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death, for adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship. [ 1913 Webster ]

Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matt. v. 44. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To oppress; harass; distress; worry; annoy. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Same as oppressed.
Syn. -- downtrodden, oppressed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. persécution, L. persecutio. ] 1. The act or practice of persecuting; especially, the infliction of loss, pain, or death for adherence to a particular creed or mode of worship. [ 1913 Webster ]

Persecution produces no sincere conviction. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state or condition of being persecuted. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A carrying on; prosecution. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L.: cf. F. persécuteur. ] One who persecutes, or harasses. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] A woman who persecutes. [ 1913 Webster ]