different between pursue vs investigate

English

Etymology

From Middle English pursuen, from Anglo-Norman pursure, poursuire etc., from Latin pr?sequor (though influenced by persequor). Doublet of prosecute.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p??sju?/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /p???u?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /p??su/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /p???u/

Verb

pursue (third-person singular simple present pursues, present participle pursuing, simple past and past participle pursued)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase. [from 14th c.]
   • 1382–1395, John Wycliffe et al. (translators), John xv. 20

     The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued me, they shall pursue you also.

   • 2009, Martin Chulov, ‘Iraqi shoe-thrower claims he suffered torture in jail’, The Guardian, 15 Sep 09:

     He now feared for his life, and believed US intelligence agents would pursue him.

2. (transitive) To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.). [from late 14th c.]

   Her rival pursued a quite different course.

3. (transitive) To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.). [from late 14th c.]
   • 2009, Benjamin Pogrund, ‘Freeze won't hurt Netanyahu’, The Guardian, 1 Dec 09:

     He even stands to gain in world terms: his noisy critics strengthen his projected image of a man determined to pursue peace with Palestinians.

4. (transitive) To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession). [from 15th c.]
5. (intransitive) To act as a legal prosecutor.

Derived terms

• pursuer

Related terms

• pursual
• pursuant
• pursuit

Translations

See also

• follow
• chase

Anagrams

• sure up

English

Etymology

Recorded since circa 1510, a Back-formation from investigation., from Latin invest?g?ti? (“a searching into”), from invest?g?tus, the past participle of investigare, equivalent to in- +? vestigate.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?n.?v?s.t?.?e??t]

Verb

investigate (third-person singular simple present investigates, present participle investigating, simple past and past participle investigated)

1. (transitive) To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information.

2. (transitive) To examine, look into, or scrutinize in order to discover something hidden or secret.

3. (intransitive) To conduct an inquiry or examination.
   • 1903, Jack London, "The Shadow and the Flash,"

     "Why don't you investigate?" he demanded. And investigate I did.

Synonyms

• underseek

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• investigate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• investigate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• investigate at OneLook Dictionary Search

Italian

Verb

investigate

1. second-person plural present indicative of investigare
2. second-person plural imperative of investigare
3. feminine plural of investigato

Latin

Verb

invest?g?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of invest?g?