Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To initiate a legal process against a person or organization in a court of law, typically to seek a legal remedy such as monetary damages or an injunction.
   • To make a formal request or plea for something, often in a persistent or earnest manner (archaic or formal usage).

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To institute legal proceedings; to bring a lawsuit.
   • To make an appeal or entreaty; to petition (archaic or formal usage).

Usage Examples

• Verb (Transitive):
  • The injured party decided to sue the manufacturer for negligence.
  • He was sued for breach of contract.
• Verb (Intransitive):
  • She threatened to sue if her demands were not met.
  • The ambassador came to sue for peace. (archaic/formal)

Advanced Usage

• "to sue for": This phrasal construction is used to specify the grounds or objective of the legal action or formal request.
  • The company was sued for patent infringement.
  • In medieval times, a defeated army might sue for mercy.
• Legal Context: The verb "sue" implies the plaintiff (the party suing) believes they have a legal cause of action against the defendant. It is the formal start of a civil lawsuit.

Variants and Related Words

• Suer (noun): (Archaic) One who sues; a petitioner or plaintiff.
• Suit (noun): The lawsuit itself or the process of suing. (e.g., ).
• Action (verb/noun): A formal legal synonym (e.g., as in the reference context, though this is less common than "sue").

Synonyms

• Litigate: To engage in a lawsuit.
• Prosecute: To institute and carry forward legal action against someone (note: often used in criminal contexts, while "sue" is primarily civil).
• Take to court: An informal phrase meaning to sue.
• Petition: To make a formal request, especially to an authority (shares the formal plea meaning).

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Sue out: (Legal, archaic) To apply for and obtain (a writ or pardon) from a court.
  • The lawyer helped him sue out a writ of habeas corpus.

Related Idioms

• Sue someone's pants off: (Informal/Humorous) To sue someone for a very large amount of money or aggressively.
  • If they don't fix this, I'll sue their pants off!
• Sue for peace: (Historical/Formal) To formally ask an enemy to end hostilities.
  • The losing nation was forced to sue for peace.

Noun

1. French writer whose novels described the sordid side of city life (1804-1857)

Verb

1. institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against
   • He was warned that the district attorney would process him
   • She actioned the company for discrimination