— persecutional , adj.
/perr'si kyooh"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act of persecuting.
2. the state of being persecuted.
3. a program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate a people because of their religion, race, or beliefs: the persecutions of Christians by the Romans.
[ 1300-50; ME persecucio ( u ) n persecution- (s. of persecutio ), L: prosecution, equiv. to persecut ( us ) ptp. of persequi (see PERSECUTE) + -ion- -ION ]