sue English · revision 6455

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200|origins=la sequor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sjuː/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English sewen, suen, [[bor|xno|suer|t=to follow, continue]], from [[m|fro|sivre|t=to follow]] (modern French suivre),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Vulgar Latin *sequere, from [[la|sequor|alt=sequī|t=to follow]] (see [[sequel]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from PIE [[ine-pro|*sekʷ-|t=to follow]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To continue or persevere: probably before 1200 in Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) to follow after or walk behind, about 1290 in the OED and the late 13th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To strive for something is from about 1300.^(Etymonline) The legal sense, to start a lawsuit or seek a right by legal process, is first recorded about 1300, from the idea of following a matter in court.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Trench quotes Wyclif's ''come, and sue me'' to show that sue once meant simply to follow.^(Trench 1859) To plead or petition, as ''sue for peace'', and to woo, ''sue for her hand'', are from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) Middle English also used it of hounds following game and of disciples following a master.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – to continue.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1290 – to follow.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – to take legal action.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – to plead.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To start legal proceedings against someone, especially to claim money.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make a formal request: ''sue for peace''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To court a woman.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[suer]]

+ * [[countersue]]

+ * [[unsued]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pursue]]

+ * [[ensue]]

+ * [[suit]]

+ * [[suite]]

+ * [[sequel]]

+ * [[sect]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}