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 verb1obsolete : to make petition to or for2archaic : to pay court or suit to : woo3 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 verb1: 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