Verb

(head)

(pursue)

Verb

(pursu)

(obsolete) To follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment.

To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.

* Wyclif Bible, 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.

To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).

Her rival pursued a quite different course.

To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).

* 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.

To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).

Verb

(head)

(trail)

Verb

(en verb)

(label) To follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something).

(label) To drag (something) behind on the ground.

* 1922 , (Virginia Woolf), (w, Jacob's Room) Chapter 1

"I saw your brother—I saw your brother," he said, nodding his head, as Archer lagged past him, trailing his spade, and scowling at the old gentleman in spectacles.

(label) To leave (a trail of).

(label) To show a trailer of (a film, TV show etc.); to release or publish a preview of (a report etc.) in advance of the full publication.

To be losing, to be behind in a competition.

* {{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 29, author=Keith Jackson, work=Daily Record

, title= SPL: Celtic 1 Rangers 0 , passage=Neil Lennon and his players have, in almost no time at all, roared back from trailing Rangers by 15 points in November to ending the year two points clear.}}

(label) To carry (a firearm) with the breech near the ground and the upper part inclined forward, the piece being held by the right hand near the middle.

To flatten (grass, etc.) by walking through it; to tread down.

(Longfellow)

(label) To take advantage of the ignorance of; to impose upon.

* (1816-1855)

I presently perceived she was (what is vernacularly termed) trailing Mrs. Dent; that is, playing on her ignorance.