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.

For yet there was no man that haddle him sued. --Chaucer.

I was beloved of many a gentle knight, And sued and sought with all the service due. --Spenser.

Sue me, and woo me, and flatter me. --Tennyson.

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.

3. (Falconry) To clean, as the beak; -- said of a hawk.

4. (Naut.) To leave high and dry on shore; as, to sue a ship. --R. H. Dana, Jr.

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)