Law To initiate or pursue legal proceedings against (another party), To make an appeal or entreaty, To woo; to pay addresses as a lover, transitive verb_ To follow up; to chase; to seek after; to endeavor to win; to woo, To seek justice or right from, by legal process; to institute process in law against; to bring an action against; to prosecute judicially, (Law) to petition for and take out, or to apply for and obtain, verb_ institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against, noun_ French writer whose novels described the sordid side of city life (1804-1857)