persecute vs dun

persecute is not a noun while dun is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
persecute	No	No	Yes	No
dun	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

As verbs, dun is a hypernym of persecute; that is, dun is a word with a broader meaning than persecute:

Other hypernyms of persecute include bedevil, crucify, frustrate, rag, torment.

persecute (noun)	dun (noun)
	horse of a dull brownish grey color
	a color or pigment varying around a light grey-brown color

persecute (adjective)	dun (adjective)
	of a dull greyish brown to brownish grey color

persecute (verb)	dun (verb)
cause to suffer	make a dun color
	cure by salting
	persistently ask for overdue payment
	treat cruelly