different between pursue vs maintain

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

From Middle English mayntenen, from Old French maintenir, from Late Latin man?tene?, man?ten?re (“I support”), from Latin man? (“with the hand”) + tene? (“I hold”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /me?n?te?n/, /m?n?te?n/
• Rhymes: -e?n

Verb

maintain (third-person singular simple present maintains, present participle maintaining, simple past and past participle maintained)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To support (someone), to back up or assist (someone) in an action. [14^th-19^thc.]
2. To keep up; to preserve; to uphold (a state, condition etc.). [from 14^thc.]
3. To declare or affirm (a clause) to be true; to assert. [from 15^thc.]

Antonyms

• (to keep up): abandon

Derived terms

• maintainability

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

• amanitin