lawsuit English · revision 7977

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1624}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlɔːˌs(j)uːt/, /ˈlɔˌs(j)ut/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound of [[law]] and [[suit]], also written law-suit.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A suit in law, the prosecution of a claim in court: 1624 in the OED and MWU, the 1620s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline glosses it as an action or proceeding in a civil court, at law or in equity.^(Etymonline) Black's Law Dictionary refers it to suit.^(Black's Law 2004)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1624 – a suit at law.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A claim or dispute brought before a [[court]] of law to be decided; a [[suit]].^(AHD)^(COED 2004)^(LDOCE 2009)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[law]]

+ * [[suit]]

+ * [[sue]]

+ * [[litigation]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}