Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Sue

Sue

,
Verb.
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. [GREEK], Skr.
sac
to accompany, and probably to E.
see
, v.t. See
See
,
Verb.
T.
, and cf.
Consequence
,
Ensue
,
Execute
,
Obsequious
,
Pursue
,
Second
,
Sect
in religion,
Sequence
,
Suit
.]
1.
To follow up; to chase; to seek after; to endeavor to win; to woo.
For yet there was no man that haddle him
sued
.
Chaucer.
I was beloved of many a gentle knight,
And
sued
and sought with all the service due.
Spenser.
Sue
me, and woo me, and flatter me.
Tennyson.
2.
(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.
3.
(Falconry)
To clean, as the beak; – said of a hawk.
4.
(Naut.)
To leave high and dry on shore;
as, to
sue
a ship
.
R. H. Dana, Jr.
To sue out
(Law)
,
to petition for and take out, or to apply for and obtain;
as,
to sue out
a writ in chancery;
to sue out
a pardon for a criminal
.

Sue

,
Verb.
I.
1.
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.
Pope.
Caesar came to Rome to
sue
for the double honor of a triumph and the consulship.
C. Middleton.
The Indians were defeated and
sued
for peace.
Jefferson.
2.
(Law)
To prosecute; to make legal claim; to seek (for something) in law;
as, to
sue
for damages
.
3.
To woo; to pay addresses as a lover.
Massinger.
4.
(Naut.)
To be left high and dry on the shore, as a ship.
R. H. Dana, Jr.

Webster 1828 Edition


Sue

SUE

,
Verb.
T.
su.
[L. sequor. See Seek and Essay.]
1.
To seek justice or right from one by legal process; to institute process in law against one; to prosecute in a civil action for the recovery of a real or supposed right; as, to sue one for debt; to sue one for damages in trespass. Matt.5.
2.
To gain by legal process.
3.
To clean the beak, as a hawk; a term of falconry.
To sue out, to petition for and take out; or to apply for and obtain; as, to sue out a writ in chancery; to sue out a pardon for a criminal.

SUE

,
Verb.
I.
To prosecute; to make legal claim; to seek for in law; as, to sue for damages.
1.
To seek by request; to apply for; to petition; to entreat.
By adverse destiny constrain'd to sue
For counsel and redress, he sues to you.
2.
To make interest for; to demand.
Caesar come to Rome to sue for the double honor of a triumph and the consulship.