Main Entry: sue

Pronunciation: \ˈsü\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): sued; su·ing

Etymology: Middle English sewen, siuen to follow, strive for, petition, from Anglo-French sivre, siure, from Vulgar Latin *sequere, from Latin sequi to follow; akin to Greek hepesthai to follow, Sanskrit sacate he accompanies

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 obsolete : to make petition to or for
2 archaic : to pay court or suit to : woo
3 a : to seek justice or right from (a person) by legal process; specifically : to bring an action against b : to proceed with and follow up (a legal action) to proper terminationintransitive verb 1 : to make a request or application : plead —usually used with for or to <sue for peace>
2 : to pay court : woo <he loved…but sued in vain — William Wordsworth>
3 : to take legal proceedings in court

— su·er noun