witch-huntv.
/ˈwɪtʃhʌnt/, U.S. /ˈwɪtʃˌ(h)ənt/ 1.
a. transitive. To conduct a campaign to identify and persecute (a person or group) considered to be undesirable due to their views or activities. Cf. witch hunt n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make attack [verb (intransitive)] > persecute
bait1579
witch-hunt1919
witch-hunt1935
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > persecute
seekc825
baitc1175
war?c1225
pursuec1300
chase1340
course1466
persecutea1475
suea1500
pickc1550
pursuit1563
prosecute1588
exagitate1602
dragoon1689
harass1788
martyr1851
dragonnade1881
witch-hunt1919
vamp1970
1919 Daily Mail (Hull) 9 Aug. 1/6 The professional class and the bourgeoisie are witch-hunted without mercy.
1946 Sun (Baltimore) 19 July 20/1 The War Department hasn't gone off half-cocked to ‘witch hunt, red bait or to bust’ unions.
1975 Listener 4 Dec. 754/2 David Niven..has severe words for it [sc. Hollywood]..for letting itself be..libelled and witch-hunted by..gossip columnists.
1983 W. McIlvanney Papers Tony Veitch x. 59 ‘When did you join the vigilantes, Jack?’ ‘Never. I'm not witch-hunting whoever did it.’
2001 Daily Tel. 30 Jan. 8/6 [He] said he did not want to ‘witch-hunt’ the medical profession, but a new culture of openness was needed in the health service.
b. intransitive. To conduct or participate in a campaign to identify and persecute a person or group considered to be undesirable by virtue of their views or activities.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make attack [verb (intransitive)] > persecute
bait1579
witch-hunt1919
witch-hunt1935
1935 Harper's Mag. Dec. 697/2 Lewis busied himself with rough-shod politics, choking off protest and witch-hunting for Communists, as all his critics were labelled.
1980 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Arts Mar. 180/1 There is..a tendency to witch-hunt when any disaster happens.
2008 Manila (Philippines) Times (Nexis) 4 Apr. Our first initiative is to ask for the help of Filipinos who can give us information, because we are not here to witch-hunt.
2. intransitive. To seek out and punish people suspected or accused of witchcraft. Cf. witch hunt n. 1. rare.
ΚΠ
1948 ‘J. Tey’ Franchise Affair v. 49 Give those Midland morons a good excuse and they'll witch-hunt with the best.
2003 W. E. Burns Witch Hunts in Europe & Amer. 213 New France witch-hunted at a much lower rate than France.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2021; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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