SUE, verb transitive su. [Latin sequor. See Seek and Essay.] 1. To seek justice or right from one by legal process; to institute process in law against one; to prosecute in a civil action for the recovery of a real or supposed right; as, to sue one for debt; to sue one for damages in trespass. Matthew 5:40. 2. To gain by legal process. 3. To clean the beak, as a hawk; a term of falconry. To sue out, to petition for and take out; or to apply for and obtain; as, to sue out a writ in chancery; to sue out a pardon for a criminal. SUE, verb intransitive To prosecute; to make legal claim; to seek for in law; as, to sue for damages. 1. To seek by request; to apply for; to petition; to entreat. By adverse destiny constrain'd to sue For counsel and redress, he sues to you. 2. To make interest for; to demand. Caesar come to Rome to sue for the double honor of a triumph and the consulship.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI