Followed someone secretly or persistently, especially in a threatening way, or approached game quietly while hunting.
From Old English 'stælcan' or 'stalcian' meaning 'to walk stiffly or stealthily'. The hunting meaning came first, then the sense of secretly following a person.
The hunting term 'stalking' is why hunters are so good at moving quietly—they practice 'stalking' animals by moving with one foot directly in front of the other to reduce noise and movement, a technique that requires intense focus.
Stalking disproportionately targets women; historically, women's fear of male pursuit was normalized as romantic. Language normalizing stalking perpetuates harm.
Reserve for legal/criminal context. Avoid romanticizing pursuit. Use 'pursued persistently' or 'followed without consent' to clarify harm.
["followed persistently","pursued without consent","harassed"]
Women survivors' experiences of stalking have been centered in victim advocacy movements, reframing the behavior from 'passion' to crime.
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