Prŏs'e-cu'tion, n.

n. [Lat. prosecutio, Pr. prosecutio, Sp. prosecucion, Fr. poursuite.]

1Sense 1. The act or process of prosecuting, or of endeavoring to gain or accomplish something; pursuit by efforts of body or mind; as, the prosecution of a scheme, plan, design, or undertaking; the prosecution of war. “Keeping a sharp eye on his domestics, as they went and came in the prosecution of their various duties.” W. Scott.

2Sense 2. (Law.) (a.) The institution and carrying on of a suit in a court of law or equity, to obtain some right, or to redress and punish some wrong; the carrying on of a judicial proceeding in behalf of a complaining party, as distinguished from defense. (b.) The institution or commencement and continuance of a criminal suit; the process of exhibiting formal charges against an offender before a legal tribunal, and pursuing them to final judgment on behalf of the state or government, as by indictment or information. Blackstone. Burrill.