Part 683

Pur"sive*ness, n. Pursiness. [Obs. & R.]

Purs"lain (?), n. Same as Purslane.

Purs"lane (?), n. [OF. porcelaine, pourcelaine (cf. It. porcellana), corrupted fr. L. porcilaca for portulaca.] (Bot.) An annual plant (Portulaca oleracea), with fleshy, succulent, obovate leaves, sometimes used as a pot herb and for salads, garnishing, and pickling.

Flowering purslane, or Great flowered purslane, the Portulaca grandiflora. See Portulaca. -- Purslane tree, a South African shrub (Portulacaria Afra) with many small opposite fleshy obovate leaves. -- Sea purslane, a seashore plant (Arenaria peploides) with crowded opposite fleshy leaves. -- Water purslane, an aquatic plant (Ludwiqia palustris) but slightly resembling purslane.

Pur*su"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being, or fit to be, pursued, followed, or prosecuted. Sherwood.

Pur*su"al (?), n. The act of pursuit. [R.]

Pur*su"ance (?), n. [See Pursuant.] 1. The act of pursuing or prosecuting; a following out or after.

Sermons are not like curious inquiries after new nothings, but pursuances of old truths.

Jer. Taylor.

2. The state of being pursuant; consequence.

In pursuance of, in accordance with; in prosecution or fulfillment of.

Pur*su"ant (?), a. [From Pursue: cf. OE. poursuiant. Cf. Pursuivant.] Acting in consequence or in prosecution (of anything); hence, agreeable; conformable; following; according; -- with to or of.

The conclusion which I draw from these premises, pursuant to the query laid down, is, etc.

Waterland.

{ Pur*su"ant, Pur*su"ant*ly, } adv. Agreeably; conformably.

Pur*sue" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pursued (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pursuing.] [OE. pursuen, porsuen, OF. porsivre, poursuivre, poursuir, F. poursuivre, fr. L. prosequi; pro forward + sequi to follow. See Sue, and cf. Prosecute, Pursuivant.] 1. To follow with a view to overtake; to follow eagerly, or with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare.

We happiness pursue; we fly from pain.

Prior.

The happiness of men lies in purswing, Not in possessing.

Longfellow.

2. To seek; to use or adopt measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law.

The fame of ancient matrons you pursue.

Dryden.

3. To proceed along, with a view to some and or object; to follow; to go in; as, Captain Cook pursued a new route; the administration pursued a wise course.

4. To prosecute; to be engaged in; to continue. " Insatiate to pursue vain war." Milton.

5. To follow as an example; to imitate.

6. To follow with enmity; to persecute; to call to account.

The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued me, they shall pursue you also.