Prosecute means "to begin or carry out a legal claim against someone, usually for a crime" or "to carry or accomplish." The act of prosecuting is prosecution. The side carrying out the legal claim is also referred to as the prosecution. An attorney representing the accuser (usually the government) is a prosecutor.

Persecute means "to harrass, or pursue in order to injure or afflict." The act of persecuting is persecution.

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