prosecute
prosecute は英検準1級レベルの英単語で、「起訴する、遂行する」という意味があります。発音記号は /ˈprɑsɪˈkjuːt/ です。
意味一覧 (2件)
起訴する
解説 Definition
法律に基づいて犯罪の容疑者を裁判にかけることです。検察官が被告人を法廷で訴追する行為を意味します。
To officially charge someone with a crime and try to prove in court that they are guilty. It is mainly used in legal contexts, where a government lawyer or authority brings the case. The word is formal and closely connected with criminal law.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
prosecute のこの意味は、犯罪を法廷で正式に扱う「起訴する」。prosecutor（検察官）と prosecution（訴追・検察）を先に結びつけると覚えやすい。police が arrest した後、prosecutors が prosecute the suspect / the case する流れを思い浮かべる。民事で「訴える」sue とは違い、刑事事件で国家側が裁判に持ち込む語。persecute（迫害する）との綴り違いにも注意。
Learn it with its word family: `prosecutor`, `prosecution`, `prosecute`. That makes it easier to place in a legal scene: police arrest, then prosecutors prosecute. It is also useful to contrast it with `sue`: `sue` is usually civil, while `prosecute` belongs to criminal cases. Watch out for similar-looking words like `persecute`, which is completely different.
例文
The prosecutor decided to prosecute the suspect for embezzlement.
検察官は横領容疑者を起訴することにした。
She was prosecuted after the fraud investigation uncovered false invoices.
不正請求書が明らかになった後、彼女は訴追された。
They prosecuted the case despite the lack of strong evidence.
確たる証拠が乏しいにもかかわらず、彼らはその件を訴追した。
遂行する
(意味 2)解説 Definition
法律の「起訴する」ではなく、戦争・計画・方針・作業などを正式に進め、最後まで実行していくときに使う語です。やや硬い語で、公的・文語的な文脈で見られます。
To prosecute something can mean to carry out a plan, policy, war, or piece of work in a serious and official way. It often suggests continuing the action steadily until it is completed. This use is more formal than common verbs like do or carry out, and it is often seen in public, military, or written contexts.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
prosecute は pro「前へ」と sequi「追う」が元で、物事を最後まで追って遂行する感覚が核です。名詞 prosecution とつなげると、任務・計画を進める意味と、犯罪を法的に追及して起訴する意味が整理できます。prosecute a war、prosecute a case のように、単に do するより継続的・正式に押し進める響きがあります。
Think of prosecute as pro + secute, with the idea of pushing something forward and following it through. This matches its formal sense of carrying out a plan, policy, or war until the end. It can help to connect it with pursue, which is related in origin and also has the idea of continuing after something.
例文
The government decided to prosecute the reform plan despite strong opposition.
政府は強い反対にもかかわらず、その改革計画を遂行することを決めた。
She worked day and night to prosecute the project to a successful end.
彼女はその計画を成功裏に遂行するため、昼夜を問わず働いた。
Without enough supplies, the army could not prosecute the war through the winter.
十分な補給がなければ、軍は冬の間その戦争を遂行できなかった。
prosecute の語源・成り立ち Etymology
prosecute はラテン語 prosequi にさかのぼり、pro-「前へ」+ sequi「追う・従う」から成ります。もとは「追跡する・最後まで追いかける」で、そこから法律で「責任を追及する」「起訴する」の意味になりました。関連語に pursue, sequel があります。
Prosecute comes from Latin prosequi, made from pro- meaning "forward" and sequi meaning "follow." Its earlier sense was to follow after, pursue, or carry through to the end. In legal use, that idea became pursuing a case against someone in court. Related words include pursue and sequel.
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