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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PURSUE, v. Also purs(h)ew, persew. Sc. forms and usages:

1. tr. To harass, worry, importune (a person to do something) (Kcb. 1967). Rare or obs. in Eng. Hence pursual, the exertion of moral pressure, “the act of urging with great earnestness” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 136).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 136:
A pursued 'im sair to cum wee ma, but he widna budge a breeth o's tae.

2. Sc. Law: (1) tr. (i) to prosecute in a court of law, to sue. Hence pursuit, ¶pursual, an action at law, a suit; pursuer, †persewer, †pur-, the active party in a civil action, the plaintiff, prosecutor (Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 71).Mry. 1705 J. Grant Moyen (1911) 5:
Bishopmiln our Shiref did purshew Baillie James Stewart in Elgin for wrongous imprisonment of some of the members of his court.Wgt. 1707 Arch. & Hist. Coll. Ayr. & Wgt. IV. 221:
Obtained be the pursewer against hir for the samen before the Laird of Langshaws Bailȝie Court.Sc. 1754 Erskine Principles iii. vii. § 15:
Neither can prescription run against persons who are already in possession, and so can gain nothing by a pursuit.Cai. 1773 Session Papers, State of Process, Sinclair v. Sinclair 9:
He pays nothing else to the pursuer, out of his possession, excepting a meat goose, when he rears geese.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet xxiii.:
As the breath of judge or counsel inclines it for pursuer or defender.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 136:
Gehn he dinna gi' m' it, a'll gee 'im a pursual afore the shirra.Sc. 1893 Dict. Nat. Biog. XXXIII. 403:
She “pursued” him in the Scottish courts in November 1703 for the sum of £500.Rxb. 1921 Kelso Chron. (21 Oct.) 3:
After an absence of 20 minutes. the jury returned a verdict for the pursuer, and assessed the damages at £300.Sc. 1964 Scots Law Times Notes 106:
The defenders maintained that the pursuer's averments were of doubtful relevancy.

(ii) to carry on (an action at law or the like), to prosecute (a case), to claim (damages) in litigation, lay (information); to present (a libel).Sc. 1716 W. MacFarlane Geneal. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 136:
He was obliged to give his Bond for the pursued Sum.Sc. 1752 J. Louthian Form of Process 152:
The Lords Justice-Clerk and Commissioners of Justiciary, having considered the Libel pursued at the instance of A.B. of —.Sc. 1754 Erskine Principles iii. vii. § 15:
This rule is, by a favourable interpretation, extended to wives who, ex reverentia maritali, forbear to pursue actions competent to them against their husbands.

(2) intr. or absol.: to raise an action in a law-court, to make suit as plaintiff or pursuer, take part in litigation.Lnk. 1707 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 6:
Ilk ane of them . . . shall have liberty to pursue for his damnages as accords in the option of his master.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 266:
He was bred a papaist [sic], but his mother . . . set on the protestant heir to pursue for his estate.Sc. 1859 Session Cases (1859–60) 254:
Though the minister was formally pursuing, yet he was substantially defending an existing possession.

3. intr. To proceed, make one's way. Obs. in Eng. in 17th c.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 136:
He pursued up the brae.