Past tense of sue; brought legal action against someone in court; took legal proceedings to recover money or rights.
From Old French 'sieuwir' (to follow), Latin 'sequi,' meaning to follow or pursue a case. The legal meaning emerged because a lawsuit 'follows' or pursues a claim through the courts.
When you sue someone, you're literally 'following' them through the legal system—the word comes from the same root as 'sequence' (following order), which is pretty fitting since lawsuits have a precise sequence of steps.
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