litigation English · revision 15098

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1567|origins=la agō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌlɪt.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/, US /ˌlɪt̬.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|lītigātiō]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from the past participle stem of [[la|lītigō|t=to dispute, quarrel, sue]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|līs|t=lawsuit, dispute, strife]], of uncertain origin, and [[m|la|agō|t=to drive, set in motion]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*ag-|t=to drive]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Disputation, a sense now rare: 1567 in the OED, the 1560s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The carrying on of a lawsuit is from 1647 in the OED, the 1640s in Etymonline,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and the practice of going to law from 1785.^(OED 1989) Other legal terms from Latin līs were litiscontestation (15th century) and litispendence (17th century).^(Etymonline) Litigious is from the 14th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1567 – disputation.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1647 – carrying on a lawsuit.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1785 – the practice of going to law.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act or process of bringing or contesting a legal action in court.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+ # A [[lawsuit]]; a judicial proceeding.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonlitigation]]

+ * [[prelitigation]]

+ * [[relitigation]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[litigate]]

+ * [[litigant]]

+ * [[litigious]]

+ * [[agent]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}