sue

¹

[ soo ]

verb (used with object)

, sued, su·ing.

1. to institute a process in law against; bring a civil action against:

   to sue someone for damages.

2. to woo or court.
3. Obsolete. to make petition or appeal to.

verb (used without object)

, sued, su·ing.

1. to institute legal proceedings, or bring suit:

   She threatened to sue.

2. to make petition or appeal:

   to sue for peace.

   Synonyms: pray, plead, petition, beg

3. to court a woman.

verb phrase

1. to make application for or apply for and obtain (a writ or the like) from a court of law.

Sue

²

[ soo; French sy ]

noun

1. Eu·gène [œ, -, zhen], Marie Joseph Sue, 1804–57, French novelist.
2. a female given name, form of Susan, Susanna, Susannah.

sue

¹

/ suː; sjuː /

verb

1. to institute legal proceedings (against)
2. to make suppliant requests of (someone for something)
3. archaic.
   to pay court (to)

Sue

²

/ sy /

noun

1. SueEugène18041857MFrenchWRITING: novelist Eugène (øʒɛn). original name Marie-Joseph Sue. 1804–57, French novelist, whose works, notably Les mystères de Paris (1842–43) and Le juif errant (1844–45), were among the first to reflect the impact of the industrial revolution on France

Derived Forms

• ˈsuer, noun

Other Words From

• su·er noun
• un·sued adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sue¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English suen, siwen, from Old French sivre, from unattested Vulgar Latin sequere “to follow,” for Latin sequī

Word History and Origins

Origin of sue¹

C13: via Anglo-Norman from Old French sivre, from Latin sequī to follow

Example Sentences

Emily is skeptical of the whole arrangement — “You know, reading a bunch of Sue Grafton novels doesn’t make you a detective,” she tells her father — but it will also, as it bumps along, bring them closer together.

From Los Angeles Times

Eagle Rock quarterback Marysol Jernigan had only been picked off twice in 376 throws entering Wednesday’s contest but the Pilots intercepted her twice, the first of which by safety Kali Sue was returned 35 yards for a score.

From Los Angeles Times

He promised to refund people who had bought the NFT eggs, but only if they agreed not sue him for anything relating to CryptoZoo.

From BBC

Evan Webster and Sue Camilleri, who worked with Petersen on the tribute show “The Best of the Bee Gees” told the New York Times that Petersen died from a fall.

From Los Angeles Times

They were too afraid and intimidated, or they thought they wouldn’t be believed, or they thought Trump would sue them for defamation if they told anyone.

From Salon

Related Words

• accuse
• appeal
• charge
• claim
• file
• indict
• petition
• plead
• prosecute