sue
/suː/
verb
Origin
Latin
sequi — to follow
Overview
Meaning Now
- To institute legal proceedings against a person or institution.
- To make a petition or formal request, especially in an archaic or formal context.
Literal older meaning
to follow
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
suer
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word entered English during the period of heavy French influence following the Norman Conquest. Its legal sense evolved from the notion of 'following up' a grievance or a person in a court of law, which eventually specialized into the modern meaning of litigating against someone.
Evolution
- Latin
sequere
“to follow”
De-ponent verb indicating a pursuit or sequence.
- Vulgar Latin
*sequare
“to follow, to pursue”
- Old French
suer
“to follow, to pursue in a legal sense”
- Middle English
suen
“to pursue, to petition”
Connections
Word parts
sue
root
to follow
Related across languages
French
suivre
to follow
Italian
seguire
to follow
Spanish
seguir
to follow
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.