litigate
verb/ˈlɪtɪɡeɪt/
Etymology First attested in 1606; borrowed from Latin lītigātus, perfect passive participle of lītigō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from līs (“a lawsuit”, oblique stem in līt-) + -igō (denominative verb-forming suffix).
1
Construed with on To go to law; to carry on a lawsuit.
- Ain't got no place to lay your head / Somebody came and took your bed / Don't worry, be happy / The landlord say your rent is late / He may have to litigate1988, “Don't Worry, Be Happy”, in Bobby McFerrin (lyrics), Simple Pleasures, performed by Bobby McFerrin:
2
To contest in law.
3
To dispute; to fight over.
Transferred sense
- you can't keep litigating this same point!
- Derived terms
- litigable, litigation, litigative, litigatory, nonlitigating, outlitigate, overlitigate, relitigate, unlitigated