v.
Pronunciation: ' sü
Function: verb
Inflected Form: 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 termination
intransitive 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