What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Pursue vs Unpursued - What's the difference?

pursue | unpursued |

As a verb pursue

is to follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment.

As an adjective unpursued is

not pursued (followed, hounded.

pursue

English

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).

    • See also

    * follow * chase

    unpursued

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • not pursued (followed, hounded)
  • *{{quote-book, year=1667, author=John Milton, title=Paradise Lost, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=Book VI All night the dreadless Angel, unpursued , Through Heaven's wide champain held his way; till Morn, Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand Unbarred the gates of light. }}
  • *{{quote-book, year=1825, author=Samuel Johnson, title=The Works of Samuel Johnson, Vol. 10., chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=At Guastalla, sir, they attacked the French in their trenches, even with forces inferiour in number, so far were they from any diffidence in the form of their establishment; and after a fight of seven hours, in which their loss was, under all their disadvantages, not greater than that of their enemies, they retreated to their former camp unmolested and unpursued . }}
  • *{{quote-book, year=1896, author=Emily Lawless, title=The Story Of Ireland, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=With doubtful patriotism he left the Danes for a while unpursued , attacked Meath, overran and wasted Connaught, and returning suddenly burnt the royal stronghold of Tara. }}
  • not pursued (engaged in, sought)
  • *{{quote-book, year=1917, author=Rudyard Kipling, title=A Diversity of Creatures, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=Our pleasures unpursued age past recall. }}