prosecutor

1590s, from Medieval Latin prosecutor, from prōsequor (English prosecute).^[1] By surface analysis, prosecute +‎ -or.

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑ.səˌkjuːˌtəɹ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

prosecutor (plural prosecutors)

2. A prosecuting attorney.

   Annie Jay was the Wisconsin government prosecutor in the trial of a man for forging his client's signature.

   • 1861, Edward William Cox, Reports of Cases in Criminal Law:

     The evidence disclosed that the three prisoners were in a public-house together with the prosecutor, Abraham Rhodes, and that in concert with the other two prisoners, the prisoner John Dewhirst placed a pencase on the table in the room where they were assembled, and left the room to get writing-paper.

   • 2008 February 22, “Now a Reminder From Mr. Cunningham”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     It sat by mutely while Jack Abramoff, the superlobbyist, spun schemes that eroded public trust, until prosecutors had to move in.

3. (law) A person, as a complainant, victim, or chief witness, who institutes prosecution in a criminal proceeding.

   The prosecutor got the witness to admit he was lying.

• prosecute
• prosecution