Fōl'lōw1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. FOLLOWED; p. pr. & vb. n. FOLLOWING.] [A-S. folgian, fyligian, fyligean, fylgan, fylian, O. H. Ger. folagên, follên, folgen, N. H. Ger. folgen, M. H. Ger. & D. volgen, Icel. fylgja, Sw. följa, Dan. følge.]
Sense 1. To go or come after; to move behind in the same direction; to pursue.
We'll follow him that's fled. Shak.
Sense 2. To go in pursuit of; to endeavor to overtake; to chase; to strive to obtain.
Follow peace with all men. Heb. xii. 14.
Sense 3. To go with as a leader; to accompany; to attend; to accept as authority; to adopt the opinions of; to obey; to yield to; to take as a rule of action.
Approve the best, and follow what I approve. Milton.
Sense 4. To imitate as a forerunner; to copy after; to take as an example.
Sense 5. To succeed in order of time, rank, or office.
Sense 6. To result from, as an effect from a cause, or an inference from a premise.
Sense 7. To watch, as a receding object; to keep the eyes fixed upon while in motion; hence, to keep the mind upon while in progress, as a speech, a piece of music; also, to keep up with; to understand the meaning, connection, or force of, as a course of thought or argument.
He followed with his eyes the fleeting shade. Dryden.
Sense 8. To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely, as a profession or calling.
O, had he but followed the arts! Shak.
Synonyms—To pursue; chase; go after; attend; accompany; succeed; imitate; copy; embrace; maintain.—TO FOLLOW, PURSUE. To follow (v. t.) denotes simply to go after; to pursue denotes to follow with earnestness, and with a view to attain some definite object; as, a hound pursues the deer. So a person follows a companion whom he wishes to overtake on a journey; the officers of justice pursue a felon who has escaped from prison.
What could I do But follow strict, invisibly thus led? Milton.
Impelled with steps unceasing to pursue Some fleeting good, that mocks me with the view, That, like the circle bounding earth and skies, Allures from far, yet, as I follow, flies. Goldsmith.