perseguito

Perseguito is the Italian past participle of the verb perseguire, meaning to pursue or to persecute. When used as an adjective or noun, it denotes someone or something that has been subjected to pursuit, harassment, or persecution. In common usage, the term most often refers to individuals or groups that experience systematic oppression, discrimination, or violence due to their religion, ethnicity, politics, or other status.

Etymology and grammar: The word derives from Latin persequi, from per- “through” + sequor “to follow.” In Italian, as a participle, perseguito agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (un perseguito / una perseguita; i perseguiti / le perseguitate). As a noun, it can refer to a person who has suffered persecution; the plural form is i perseguitati. The related noun persecuzione denotes the act or policy of persecution, and the verb perseguire covers both lawful pursuit and oppressive harassment.

Usage and contexts: Perseguito occurs in historical, legal, and human rights contexts. It is common in discussions of religious, ethnic, or political persecution, refugee narratives, and international law. The term appears in phrases such as persecuzioni politiche or persecuzioni religiose to describe specific forms of persecution.

See also: persecuzione; persecuzioni politiche; diritti umani; crimini contro l’umanità.

Translations: In English, perseguito is commonly translated as persecuted, though it can also mean pursued in a literal sense depending on context.