pursuivant

pursuivant

English

Etymology

From Middle English pursevant et al., from Old French pursuivant, present participle of pursuivre (“to follow”). Doublet of pursuant.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɜː.sɪ.vənt/

• Audio (Southern England)

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɜɹ.sɪ.vənt/, /ˈpɜr.swɪ.vənt/

  Audio (US)

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Noun

pursuivant (plural pursuivants)

1. (archaic) A follower
2. (heraldry) A functionary of lower rank than a herald, but discharging similar duties; called also pursuivant at arms; an attendant of the heralds, e.g. in the College of Arms.
   • 1845, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, To A Child

     The herald Hope, forerunning Fear, / And Fear, the pursuivant of Hope.

3. (Freemasonry) A Grand Lodge Officer who guards the inner door during a meeting of the Grand Lodge
4. A royal messenger, (particularly) one with the authority to execute warrants.
   • 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 12, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, OCLC 1069526323:

     One pursuivant […] who attempted to execute a warrant there was murdered.

5. (law enforcement, by extension) A warrant officer.