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

Last week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a third doctor for providing gender-affirming care in the state, where it was outlawed last year.

From Salon

The families sued Jones after he falsely claimed that the shooting was a false flag to justify the confiscation of Americans' firearms.

From Salon

She said her husband was "very, very upset" for a long time afterwards and wanted to sue Mr MacKenzie, claiming the treatment had made his injury worse.

From BBC

Last December, dozens of students sued the government after teachers accidentally cut their test short by 90 seconds.

From BBC

Olson sued on behalf of two gay couples, and Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that it was unconstitutional discrimination to deny them the right to marry.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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