Hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race, political beliefs, or religious views; systematic oppression or harassment of an individual or group.
From Latin persecutio, from persequi meaning 'to follow through, pursue persistently,' combining per- (through) and sequi (to follow). The word evolved from the literal sense of pursuit to the figurative sense of relentless harassment.
Persecution is like being followed by a predator - the Latin root 'sequi' means 'to follow' (like in 'sequence'), so persecution is when someone follows you with harmful intent, never letting up!
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