pursuivant

English

Alternative forms

• poursuivant (archaic)

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):

  (file)

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

  Audio (US):

  (file)

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.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 291:

     How oft do they [the blessed Angels] with golden pineons, cleaue / The flitting skyes, like flying Purſuiuant, / Againſt fowle feendes to ayd vs millitant: […]

   • 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.
   • 1851, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XII, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume III, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 138:

     The law was altogether without force in the highlands which lie on the south of the vale of Tralee. No officer of justice willingly ventured into those parts. One pursuivant who in 1680 attempted to execute a warrant there was murdered.

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