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Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Follow Fol"low, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Followed; p. pr. & vb. n. Following.][OE. foluwen, folwen, folgen, AS. folgian, fylgean, fylgan; akin to D. volgen, OHG. folg?n, G. folgen, Icel. fylgja, Sw. f["o]lja, Dan. f["o]lge, and perh. to E. folk.] 1. To go or come after; to move behind in the same path or direction; hence, to go with (a leader, guide, etc.); to accompany; to attend. It waves me forth again; I'll follow it. --Shak. 2. To endeavor to overtake; to go in pursuit of; to chase; to pursue; to prosecute. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. --Ex. xiv. 17. 3. To accept as authority; to adopt the opinions of; to obey; to yield to; to take as a rule of action; as, to follow good advice. Approve the best, and follow what I approve. --Milton. Follow peace with all men. --Heb. xii. 14. It is most agreeable to some men to follow their reason; and to others to follow their appetites. --J. Edwards. 4. To copy after; to take as an example. We had rather follow the perfections of them whom we like not, than in defects resemble them whom we love. --Hooker. 5. To succeed in order of time, rank, or office. 6. To result from, as an effect from a cause, or an inference from a premise. 7. To watch, as a receding object; to keep the eyes fixed upon while in motion; to keep the mind upon while in progress, as a speech, musical performance, etc.; also, to keep up with; to understand the meaning, connection, or force of, as of a course of thought or argument. He followed with his eyes the flitting shade. --Dryden. 8. To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely, as a profession or calling. O, had I but followed the arts! --Shak. O Antony! I have followed thee to this. --Shak. Follow board (Founding), a board on which the pattern and the flask lie while the sand is rammed into the flask. --Knight. To follow the hounds, to hunt with dogs. To follow suit (Card Playing), to play a card of the same suit as the leading card; hence, colloquially, to follow an example set. To follow up, to pursue indefatigably. Syn: Syn.- To pursue; chase; go after; attend; accompany; succeed; imitate; copy; embrace; maintain. Usage: - To Follow, Pursue. To follow (v.t.) denotes simply to go after; to pursue denotes to follow with earnestness, and with a view to attain some definite object; as, a hound pursues the deer. So a person follows a companion whom he wishes to overtake on a journey; the officers of justice pursue a felon who has escaped from prison.