to follow up

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[=e]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.
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            It waves me forth again; I'll follow it. --Shak.
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   2. To endeavor to overtake; to go in pursuit of; to chase; to
      pursue; to prosecute.
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            I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they
            shall follow them.                    --Ex. xiv. 17.
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   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.
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            Approve the best, and follow what I approve.
                                                  --Milton.
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            Follow peace with all men.            --Heb. xii.
                                                  14.
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            It is most agreeable to some men to follow their
            reason; and to others to follow their appetites.
                                                  --J. Edwards.
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   4. To copy after; to take as an example.
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            We had rather follow the perfections of them whom we
            like not, than in defects resemble them whom we
            love.                                 --Hooker.
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   5. To succeed in order of time, rank, or office.
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   6. To result from, as an effect from a cause, or an inference
      from a premise.
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   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.
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            He followed with his eyes the flitting shade.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   8. To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely,
      as a profession or calling.
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            O, had I but followed the arts!       --Shak.
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            O Antony! I have followed thee to this. --Shak.
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   {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.
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