Suen
/suːn/noun
An obsolete Middle English form of “sue,” meaning to follow, pursue, or bring a legal action.
Did you know?The legal sense of “sue” developed from the older physical idea of following or pursuing someone, turning a chase into a courtroom action.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sekw-
“To follow or accompany”
Classical Latin
Latin
sequī
“To follow”
Late Latin
Latin
sĕquere
“Follow; pursue”
Old French
Old French
suir / suivre
“To follow or pursue”
12th–14th Century
Middle English
suen
“To follow, pursue, or bring a legal claim”
Modern English
English
sue
“To bring a legal action; historically, to follow or pursue”