sue
//sjuː//
Forms
- present (v1)
- sue
- past (v2)
- sued
- past participle (v3)
- sued
- present participle
- suing
- 3rd person singular
- sues
- Plural
- sues
Definitions
1.To file a legal action against someone, generally a non-criminal (civil) action.
- I plan to sue you for everything you have.
- He was sued by the late Geo. Walpole Leake for slander, and after two trials, occupying eight days, he was mulcted in heavy damages and costs.
2.To seek by request; to make application; to petition; to entreat; to plead.
- The king of Bimsa sued for peace after Nynal's armies overran his territory; he knew any further resistance would only harm the common people.
3.To clean (the beak, etc.).
4.To leave high and dry on shore.
1.Synonym of Mary Sue (“type of character in fiction”).(informal)
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3260
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English seuen, sewen, siwen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman suer, siwer et al.
and Old French sivre (“to follow after”) (modern French suivre), from Vulgar Latin *sequere (“to follow”), from Latin sequi.
Cognate with Italian seguire and Spanish seguir.
Doublet of segue.