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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Persewar, n. Also: perseu-; pershew-, -sheu-; pursu- and -are, -air, -er, -ir; perssouar. [ME. and e.m.E. pursuer(e, -suwer (Wyclif), pursuour (c 1412), persewer (1545), f. Persew v.] A pursuer, one who pursues, in senses of Persew v.

1. A persecutor or oppressor. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1688.
Off ane persewar he makis a protectour 1513 Doug. vi. ii. 22.
Juno Troianys persewar expres a1538 Abell 68 b.
He tholit gret persecutioun … bot Otho deliuerit him and punist his persewaris 1567 G. Ball. 92.
Contrair to my persewaris pryde To thair displesour and dispyte

2. a. An assailant or attacker. b. A besieger.Only Sc. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 113.
The Lord Huntlie … durst not had his face to the persewaris 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 252.
The persewaris persawing the saids wallis sa waliantlie castin within defendit as thaj wer, left purpois a1578 Pitsc. I. 143/2.
The seige lastit langer nor the perssouaris expectatioun was 1622-6 Bisset II. 188/14 (see Persuit n. 5).
Persewaris

3. One who follows or chases (a person or animal) in order to capture or kill; a hunter. 1456 Hay I. 202/21.
Bot and he mycht eschape fra thame … he suld nocht sla his persewaris 1596 Dalr. I. 21/13.
Gif ony in tyme of peace, quhill a persewar is following ony thing he wantis, hindir this dog Ib. 350/5.
Bruse … callis a smith … to schue thrie suofte horses backward that throuch this craft the persewer and the ennimie follower mycht nocht find [etc.] 1600 Crim. Trials II. 251.
As for thir romuris that gois that the King was ane doar and not ane sufferer ane persewar and not persewit it is not true

4. A pursuer or plaintiff in a legal suit; also, a prosecutor.Also in appositive use.(1) 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 38.
He salbe condampnit in the harmes a pon him taxt be his perseuar 1561 Reg. Privy C. I. 173. 1564–5 Ib. 318.
The saidis Gilbert Millar persewar and the said Johnne Hammiltoun comperand bayth personalie 1573–4 Rec. Earld. Orkney 135.
Thairfoir the assyse absolvis thame fra the persewairis clame 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 115.
The principallis of the persewaris of this actioun wer [etc.] c1575 Balfour Pract. 191.
He is haldin allanerlie to enter his persoun … to the sute of the persewar befoir the judge within the court [etc.] Ib. 273, etc.
Except the persewar and defender 1576 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. . 1599 St. A. Kirk S. 899.
Jhon Roule procurator for the persewaris desyrit the defendaris declaration to be tane thairintill 1603 Moysie 99.
He … wes the persever of the Erle of Mortoun at the King and counsallis command according to a warrand granted theranent 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 77, etc. 1618 Elgin Rec. I. 235.
That he stood within feird and fourtis of kin to the persewair 1625 Justiciary Cases I. 19.
Persewaris: Elizabeth Craufurd, the relict [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset I. 86/1.
In all actionis … thrie personis ar necessare … the judge … the perseware … the defendare 1630 Dumbarton B. Rec. 33.
Persewir 1632 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 384.
Persewar a1633 Hope Major Pract. II. 250. c1650 Spalding I. 229.
Aduocates for the perseuares 1660 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 279.
Defender Notman present, persewar absent 1665 Rothesay B. Rec. 96.
Persewer 1674 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 206 (9 May).
And that the perseuars goods was amongest the rest 1717 Stitchill Baron Ct. 176.
Issobell Purves … being persued … for ane scandall in calling the persewer whoor theif and loun(b) 1589 Craig-Brown Selkirkshire I. 167.
That the persuers and defenders sall be in amitie 1687 Rothesay B. Rec. 450.
The persuar offers to prove possession therof past memory of man(c) 1673 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II. 136.
Pursuer 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xxv. 2 (1699) 162. 1683 Fountainhall Decis. I. 240.
Gideon the inputter now pursuer(d) 1677 Rothesay B. Rec. 350.
Pershewer 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 316.
The persheuars having also executt summonds of exhibitione … against the defender(2) 1561 (c 1650) Dundee B. Laws 23.
That parties persewars be thair also or xi houres 1567 Acts III. 40/1.
That the partie persewar mend his libell at the bar 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 366.
The partie persewar to gif him in bill [etc.] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 145.
Aganis quhatsumeuer personis persewaris thairfoir 1644 Dalkeith Presb. in Butler Leighton 224.
Partie perseuar

5. A suitor; one who seeks a favour. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xvi. 17 (M).
Sum for his giftis sa lang requyrit Quhill the perseware be so tyrit That [etc.]