From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pursuit \Pur*suit"\, n. [F. poursuite, fr. poursuivre. See
{Pursue}, v. t.]
1. The act of following or going after; esp., a following
with haste, either for sport or in hostility; chase;
prosecution; as, the pursuit of game; the pursuit of an
enemy. --Clarendon.
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Weak we are, and can not shun pursuit. --Shak.
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2. A following with a view to reach, accomplish, or obtain;
endeavor to attain to or gain; as, the pursuit of
knowledge; the pursuit of happiness or pleasure.
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3. Course of business or occupation; continued employment
with a view to same end; as, mercantile pursuits; a
literary pursuit.
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4. (Law) Prosecution. [Obs.]
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That pursuit for tithes ought, and of ancient time
did pertain to the spiritual court. --Fuller.
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{Curve of pursuit} (Geom.), a curve described by a point
which is at each instant moving towards a second point,
which is itself moving according to some specified law.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
pursuit
n 1: the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture;
"the culprit started to run and the cop took off in
pursuit" [syn: {pursuit}, {chase}, {pursual}, {following}]
2: a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria;
"the pursuit of love"; "life is more than the pursuance of
fame"; "a quest for wealth" [syn: {pursuit}, {pursuance},
{quest}]
3: an auxiliary activity [syn: {avocation}, {by-line}, {hobby},
{pursuit}, {sideline}, {spare-time activity}]
4: a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually
pleasantly); "sailing is her favorite pastime"; "his main
pastime is gambling"; "he counts reading among his
interests"; "they criticized the boy for his limited
pursuits" [syn: {pastime}, {interest}, {pursuit}]
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