prosecution
noun
[ prɒsɪˈkjuːʃ(ə)n ]
• the institution and conducting of legal proceedings against someone in respect of a criminal charge.
• "the organizers are facing prosecution for noise nuisance"
• the continuation of a course of action with a view to its completion.
• "the BBC's prosecution of its commercial ends"
Origin:
mid 16th century (in prosecution (sense 2)): from Old French, or from late Latin prosecutio(n- ), from prosequi ‘pursue, accompany’ (see prosecute).
