Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French suivre, from Vulgar Latin sequere, from Latin sequi to follow, come or go after; akin to Greek hepesthai to follow, Sanskrit sacate he accompanies
Pronunciation : 'sü
Function : verb
Date : 14th century
1. take court action against, institute court proceedings against; earnestly request, plead, petition, entreat; woo, court. sue\sue\ , v. i.
2. to seek by request; to make application; to petition; to entreat; to plead. by adverse destiny constrained to sue for counsel and redress, he sues to you. c?sar came to rome to sue for the double honor of a triumph and the consulship. middleton. the indians were defeated and sued for peace.
3. (law) to prosecute; to make legal claim; to seek (for something) in law; as, to sue for damages.
4. to woo; to pay addresses as a lover.
5. (naut.) to be left high and dry on the shore, as a ship. h. dana, jr.sue \sue\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. sued ; p. pr. & vb. n. suing .] [oe. suen, sewen, siwen, of. sivre (pres.ind. 3d sing. il siut, suit, he follows, nous sevons we follow), ll. sequere, for l. sequi, secutus; akin to gr. , skr. sac to accompany, and probably to e. see, v.t. see:
see, v. t., and cf. consequence, ensue, execute, obsequious, pursue, second, sect in religion, sequence, suit.].
6. to follow up; to chase; to seek after; to endeavor to win; to woo. for yet there was no man that haddle him sued. i was beloved of many a gentle knight, and sued and sought with all the service due. sue me, and woo me, and flatter me.
7. (law) (a) to seek justice or right from, by legal process; to institute process in law against; to bring an action against; to prosecute judicially. (b) to proceed with, as an action, and follow it up to its proper termination; to gain by legal process.
8. (falconry) to clean, as the beak; -- said of a hawk.
9. (naut.) to leave high and dry on shore; as, to sue a ship. h. dana, jr.
10. To follow up; to chase; to seek after; to endeavor to win; to woo.
11. To seek justice or right from, by legal process; to institute process in law against; to bring an action against; to prosecute judicially.
12. To proceed with, as an action, and follow it up to its proper termination; to gain by legal process.
13. To clean, as the beak; said of a hawk.
14. To leave high and dry on shore; as, to sue a ship.
15. To seek by request; to make application; to petition; to entreat; to plead.
16. To prosecute; to make legal claim; to seek in law; as, to sue for damages.
17. To woo; to pay addresses as a lover.
18. To be left high and dry on the shore, as a ship.
19. French writer whose novels described the sordid side of city life.
20. If you sue someone, you start a legal case against them, usually in order to claim money from them because they have harmed you in some way. Mr Warren sued him for libel over the remarks One former patient has already indicated his intention to sue.