Other forms: pursuits
A pursuit is a chase — someone going after someone else, fast and on purpose. Blue lights closing on a car down the motorway; a dog flat out across a field after a rabbit.
The second sense is quieter: a pursuit is something you spend your time and effort on. Outdoor pursuits, leisure pursuits, the pursuit of happiness in the American Declaration of Independence. The phrase to know is in pursuit of, which works for both — the police were in pursuit of a blue van, she gave up a salary in pursuit of a book. In hot pursuit means right behind and gaining. It is the noun of the verb pursue, and it is a formal word: talking about your weekend you would say hobby, not pursuit.
1nounpursuitThe act of chasing someone or something in order to catch them.
“Two cars set off in pursuit of the motorbike.”
2nounactivityAn activity that someone spends time and effort on.
“Fishing is a slow pursuit, and that is the point of it.”
3nountryingThe effort of trying to achieve or obtain something.
“He gave up a steady job in pursuit of a place at drama school.”
Pursuit reached Middle English as pursuyte, from Old French poursuite, the noun made from the verb porsuir, "to pursue". The chase is the original picture, and the sense of an activity you follow is the same chase slowed right down.
Old French
poursuite
Middle English
pursuyte
English, today
pursuit
Built from
From Middle English pursuyte, from Old French poursuite, from the verb porsuir (“to pursue”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in A Man Called Ove, A Song of Ice and Fire
First appears in chapter 11 of A Man Called Ove.
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