▪ I. suing, vbl. n.
(ˈs(j)uːɪŋ)
[f. sue v. + -ing1.]
† 1. a. The following of a person or thing; the pursuance of a course of action; the carrying out or execution of something. Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10323, & to sywi þis mansinge,..We asigneþ þe bissop of winchestre þer to,..[and] Of roucetre & of salesburi þe siwinge to do. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 375 Bi manere of suynge of Crist in perfit weie of vertues. 1382 ― 2 Macc. ii. 32 For to eschewe out suyngus of thingus [orig. executiones rerum vitare]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 483/2 Suwynge, or folowynge yn maners and condycyons, imitacio. Ibid., Suwynge, of [? or] folowynge of steppys. c 1465 Eng. Chron. (Camden) 50 The presence of bothe kyngis moste nedis be had, what for settyng to of thair selis, what for the mariage sewyng. |
† b. A course, direction. Obs.
| c 1410 Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) xxx, He muste loke þat he take not þe longe of þe wayes, for it is þe werste sewynge þat is. |
† 2. Succession in time or order of events, etc. by suing: in consequence, consequently. Obs.
| a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula etc. 63 Þe same sekenez þat comeþ of þe vice of menstruez, comeþ also of þe emoroid, & econverso; and so by sewyng þat þai acorde in cure. Ibid. 88 Wherfor þe bolnyng in þe wounde is augmented and, by sewyng, þe ake; for þe tone is occasion of þe toþer. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 483/2 Svynge, or folwynge a sundry tymys (..P. suynge of tyme), successus. |
† 3. ? Proportion. (Cf. suing ppl. a. 3.)
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xix. 63 Men may seo on an appultreo meny tyme and ofte, Of o kynne apples aren nat yliche grete, Ne of sewynge smale ne of o swetnesse swete. |
4. a. ‘Pursuing’ at law; legal prosecution or suit; application for a writ. Also suing forth.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 485/1 Sute, or suynge yn maters and cawsys, prosecucio. 1563 Homilies ii. Rogation Week iv, Saint Paule blamed the Corinthians, for suche contentious suyng amonge them selues. 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 144 They fell to suing, provoking, and brawling. 1589 Nashe Martins Months Minde Wks. (Grosart) I. 146 The Suing of Martin Senior his liuerie. 1607 Cowell Interpr. s.v. Parson, He..representeth the church, and susteineth the person thereof, as well in siewing, as being siewed in any action. 1633 Stafford Pac. Hib. i. xvi. 97 To be at the charge of suing foorth of their pardons. 1668 Ormonde MSS. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 78 Your order for the sueing of the said John Baxter. 1712 Prideaux Direct. Ch.-wardens (ed. 4) 32 They are a Corporation, and capable of Suing and being Sued. 1946 Law Rep. (King's Bench Division) 18 Sept. (1947) 93 The plaintiff was incapable of suing. 1983 Weekly Law Rep. 22 July 884 By the grant of a stay the plaintiffs would be deprived of the juridical advantage of suing as plaintiffs in the Admiralty Court. |
b. suing and labouring clause: = sue and labour clause (see sue v. 21 d).
| 1899 R. G. Marsden Digest Cases Shipping 580 General average and salvage do not come within either the words or the object of the suing and labouring clause of a policy of marine assurance. |
5. The action of a suitor; paying court; entreaty, supplication.
| 1591 Spenser M. Hubberd 896 Full little knowest thou that hast not tride, What hell it is, in suing long to bide. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. xiii. vii. (1622) 189 Great suings preuailed so much for Eprius Marcellus,..that some of the accusers were banished. 1741 Middleton Cicero (1742) II. vi. 151 When Milo offered to drop his suit for the Consulship..he answered, that he would not concern himself with any man's suing or desisting. 1820 Byron Mar. Fal. v. i. 392 Thy suing to these men were but the bleating Of the lamb to the butcher. 1847 Clough Quest. Spirit 10 Poems (1862) 32 This answer gave they still unto his suing, We know not, let us do as we are doing. |
▪ II. suing, ppl. a.
(ˈs(j)uːɪŋ)
[f. sue v. + -ing2. Cf. suant a.]
That sues.
† 1. Following. Obs. rare.
| 1388 Wyclif Gen. xxix. 30 He..settide the loue of the wiif suynge [v.r. later wijf] bifore the former. |
† 2. Fitting, according to. Obs.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 76 It is beter and more suynge þis gospel to seie [etc.]. |
† 3. Regular, proportionate; even, uniform. Obs.
| c 1369 Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 959, I knewe on hir noon other lakke That al hir lymmes nere pure sywynge. 1442 Rolls of Parlt. V. 60/2 That every pece of Worsted be suyng thurghoute the Clothe. 1467–8 Ibid. 620/1. |
4. In absol. or advb. constr.: (a) In succession, one after another; (b) afterwards, after.
| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xviii. 191 He takethe on o nyght, and another another nyght, and so forthe contynuelle sewyng. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy iv. 1658 And sevene dayes, suynge by and by, Þis lif he ladde. 1430–40 ― Bochas v. iii. (1554) 125 b, Milo..slough hymself suyng the twelue day. 1433 ― St. Fremund 751 Thre sondry tymes swynge nyht be nyht. 1450–80 tr. Secr. Secr. 5 As ye shalle se more pleynlier sewyng bi ordre. c 1500 Melusine 73 They..made to the kinge reuerence, after siewyng salewed the barons & lordes. 1519 W. Horman Vulg. 15 Moses wrytte, what was done, in the begynnynge of the worlde, and suynge after. |
5. Preferring a suit; entreating, supplicating.
| 1581 A. Hall Iliad vi. 109 Meaning by force to rauish me, when as preuailed not His fawning toyes and sewing tales. a 1586 Sidney Ps. xxviii. ii, To thy self those wordes apply, Which from suing voice do fly. a 1704 T. Brown Sat. agst. Woman Wks. 1730 I. 56 Fools of all sorts with pleasure they admit, While they palm vertue on the sueing wit. |
6. Bringing an action at law.
| 1883 Daily News 3 July 2/3 His Honour appointed Mr. H. L...as receiver of the estate, and restrained two suing creditors. |