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litigate

[ lit-i-geyt ]
/ ˈlɪt ɪˌgeɪt /
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verb (used with object), lit·i·gat·ed, lit·i·gat·ing.

to make the subject of a lawsuit; contest at law.
Archaic. to dispute (a point, assertion, etc.).

verb (used without object), lit·i·gat·ed, lit·i·gat·ing.

to carry on a lawsuit.

RELATED WORDS

prosecute, sue, appeal, contest, dispute

Nearby words

  1. lithuresis,
  2. lithuria,
  3. lithy,
  4. litigable,
  5. litigant,
  6. litigation,
  7. litigation friend,
  8. litigator,
  9. litigiosity,
  10. litigious

Origin of litigate

First recorded in 1605–15, litigate is from the Latin word lītigātus (past participle of lītigāre to go to law). See litigant, -ate1
Related formslit·i·ga·tive, adjectivere·lit·i·gate, verb (used with object), re·lit·i·gat·ed, re·lit·i·gat·ing.un·lit·i·gat·ed, adjectiveun·lit·i·gat·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for litigate

British Dictionary definitions for litigate

litigate

/ (ˈlɪtɪˌɡeɪt) /

verb

to bring or contest (a claim, action, etc) in a lawsuit
(intr) to engage in legal proceedings
Derived Formslitigator, noun

Word Origin for litigate

C17: from Latin lītigāre, from līt-, stem of līs lawsuit + agere to carry on
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for litigate

litigate

v.

1610s, from Middle French litigier and directly from Latin litigatus, past participle of litigare "to dispute, carry on a suit" (see litigation). Related: Litigated; litigating.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper