Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Sue

Sue , transitive verb

[Old English suen, sewen, siwen, Old French sivre (pres.ind. 3d sing. il siut, suit, he follows, nous sevons we follow), Late Latin sequere, for Latin sequi, secutus; akin to Greek {not transcribed}, Sanskrit sac to accompany, and probably to English see, transitive verb See See, transitive verb, and compare 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.
(a) (Law) To seek justice or right from, by legal process; to institute process in law against; to bring an action against; to prosecute judicially.
(b)
(Law) 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.
(Nautical) To leave high and dry on shore; as, to sue a ship. — R. H. Dana, Jr
Collocations (1)
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.

Sue , intransitive verb

1.
To seek by request; to make application; to petition; to entreat; to plead.
By adverse destiny constrained to sue For counsel and redress, he sues to you. — Pope
Caesar came to Rome to sue for the double honor of a triumph and the consulship. — C. Middleton
The Indians were defeated and sued for peace. — Jefferson
2.
(Law) To prosecute; to make legal claim; to seek (for something) in law; as, to sue for damages.
3.
To woo; to pay addresses as a lover. — Massinger
4.
(Nautical) To be left high and dry on the shore, as a ship. — R. H. Dana, Jr