From Latin 'captāre' (to try to seize), via Old French 'chacier' — a doublet of 'catch' from the same root.
To pursue in order to catch or catch up with.
From Old French 'chacier' meaning 'to hunt, pursue,' from Vulgar Latin *captiāre, from Latin 'captāre' (to try to seize), frequentative of 'capere' (to take, to seize). Key roots: capere (Latin: "to take, seize").