Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HUNT, v.t. [Sax. huntian. This word does not appear in the cognate languages. See Class Gn, No. 67.]

1. To chase wild animals, particularly quadrupeds, for the purpose of catching them for food, or for the diversion of sportsmen; to pursue with hounds for taking, as game; as, to hunt a stag or a hare.
2. To go in search of, for the purpose of shooting; as, to hunt wolves, bears, squirrels or partridges. This is the common use of the word in America. It includes fowling by shooting.
3. To pursue; to follow closely. Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. Ps. cxl.
4. To use, direct or manage hounds in the chase. He hunts a pack of dogs. Addison. To hunt out, or after, to seek; to search for. Locke. To hunt from, to pursue and drive out or away. To hunt down, to depress; to bear down by persecution or violence.