- To sue out
- Sue Sue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sued}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Suing}.]
[OE. suen, sewen, siwen, OF. sivre (pres.ind. 3d sing. il
siut, suit, he follows, nous sevons we follow), LL. sequere,
for L. sequi, secutus; akin to Gr. ?, Skr. sac to accompany,
and probably to E. see, v.t. See {See}, v. t., and cf.
{Consequence}, {Ensue}, {Execute}, {Obsequious}, {Pursue},
{Second}, {Sect} in religion, {Sequence}, {Suit}.]
1. To follow up; to chase; to seek after; to endeavor to win;
to woo.
[1913 Webster]
For yet there was no man that haddle him sued. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
I was beloved of many a gentle knight, And sued and sought with all the service due. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
Sue me, and woo me, and flatter me. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
2. (Law) (a) To seek justice or right from, by legal process; to institute process in law against; to bring an action against; to prosecute judicially. (b) To proceed with, as an action, and follow it up to its proper termination; to gain by legal process. [1913 Webster]
3. (Falconry) To clean, as the beak; -- said of a hawk. [1913 Webster]
4. (Naut.) To leave high and dry on shore; as, to sue a ship. --R. H. Dana, Jr. [1913 Webster]
{To sue out} (Law), 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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.