French writer whose novels described the sordid side of city life (1804-1857)
"The critic argued that Balzac's depiction of Parisian poverty in La Comédie Humaine was too graphic for a general audience."
A Mary Sue (type of character in fiction).
"The editor suggested rewriting the protagonist so she wasn't such a Mary Sue, noting that her perfect luck made the story feel unrealistic."
"The lawyer promised to drop his suit if we paid him off immediately."
To file a legal action against someone, generally a non-criminal action.
"After failing to receive compensation for his car accident, Marcus decided to sue the insurance company."
In plain English: To sue means to officially ask a court of law to make someone pay you money or stop them from doing something they did wrong.
"My neighbor sued me for the damage my dog caused to her garden."
Usage: Use sue when you intend to initiate a civil lawsuit in court rather than reporting a crime or seeking police intervention. This verb specifically applies to asking a judge for compensation or other remedies through the formal legal system.
A diminutive of the female given name Susan and of related female given names; popular as a middle name.
"My teacher named her daughter Sue, hoping it would serve as a charming middle name alongside her first name Emily."
The word "sue" comes from the Old French verb meaning "to follow," which entered Middle English via Anglo-Norman. Its original sense of pursuing someone in a legal matter evolved directly from this root idea of following after another person.