Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PROS-E-CU'TION, n.

1. The act or process 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 or of commerce, the prosecution of a work, study, argument or inquiry.
2. 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 prosecution of a claim in chancery is very expensive. Malicious prosecutions subject the offender to punishment.
3. 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; as, prosecutions of the crown or of the state by the attorney or solicitor-general. Prosecutions may be by presentment, information or indictment. – Blackstone.