Prosecute

[Perry]

pros·e·cute (prs-kyt)
v. pros·e·cut·ed, pros·e·cut·ing, pros·e·cutes
v.tr.
1. Law
a. To initiate civil or criminal court action against.
b. To seek to obtain or enforce by legal action.
2.
a. To pursue (an undertaking, for example) until completion; follow to the very end.
b. To chase or pursue (a vessel): "He held a dispatch saying that [they] had prosecuted and probably killed an Echo-class missile submarine" Tom Clancy.
3. To carry on, engage in, or practice.
v.intr. Law
1. To initiate and conduct legal proceedings.
2. To act as prosecutor.

Lately I have run into a few examples of people using this word in the sense of definition 2a (i.e. in the sense of executing a task). This usage is sufficiently rare, that when in happened twice in one day (once as part of a phrase in someone's CV and once on the radio) it really grabbed my attention.

[Bailey]

and just think how close it is to persecute, I am sure the prosecuted do feel persecuted.

mark hanging-in-there Bailey

[Perry]

and just think how close it is to persecute, I am sure the prosecuted do feel persecuted.

mark hanging-in-there Bailey

Tell me by which yardarm, and I'll come cut you down.

[Bailey]

fifth from the left.

Mark living-in-the-doghouse Bailey