Lewis & Short

in-sectātĭo, ōnis, f. [insector], a pursuing, pursuit (class., but not in Cic. or Cæs.).

  1. I. Lit.: hostis, Liv. 21, 47, 2.
  2. II. Trop., a pursuing with words, a censuring, railing at, deriding, insulting: tanta est hominum insolentia et nostri insectatio, Brut. ap. Ep. Cic. Fam. 11, 1, 2: principum, Liv. 22, 34, 2: studiorum et morum alicujus, Suet. Gramm. 19: insectationibus petere aliquem, Tac. A. 2, 55: fortunae, Quint. 6, 3, 28; 11, 1, 86: quod insectationis genus, id. 5, 7, 6.