Chases

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃeɪsɪz/

Definitions

  1. To pursue something with speed and determination | To follow after in an attempt to catch or reach it | To actively seek something, often with the intent of acquiring it
  2. To run after or seek to catch someone or something quickly | To follow in pursuit for the purpose of obtaining or confronting | To engage in the act of pursuing with the aim of capturing or attaining an object or individual
  3. To engage in a rapid pursuit of another entity, aiming to capture or reach it | To actively follow and pursue something or someone in a determined effort to attain or catch them | To seek after with urgency, often indicating an intention to obtain or confront the target

Etymology: The verb "chase" traces back to the Old French word "chacier," which meant "to hunt, pursue, or drive out." This Old French form itself comes from the Late Latin term "captiare," a frequentative of "capere," meaning "to seize or take." The sense of pursuit or hunting is deeply rooted in these antecedents, reflecting the physical act of running after something or someone. By the late Middle Ages, around the 14th century, the word entered Middle English as "chasen," retaining the core meaning of actively pursuing or hunting. This period saw the term applied not only to literal hunting of animals but also metaphorically to pursuits of various kinds, such as chasing after dreams or ambitions. Over time, the original sense of hunting gave way to a broader application encompassing any act of pursuit, whether physical, emotional, or abstract. The modern pronunciation, with the "ch" sound as in "choose," has remained fairly consistent since Middle English, preserving the sound inherited from Old French. The plural form "chases," serving as the third-person singular present tense of the verb, simply follows standard English conjugation patterns. While the word’s roots are firmly tied to the concrete act of hunting or running after, its usage has expanded to cover many kinds of relentless or determined pursuit.

Synonyms: pursuits, runs, hunts

Antonyms: escapes, fleeing