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Added 9 October 2026

litigate

/ˈlɪtɪɡeɪt/ verb

In Latin: lītigō First recorded: 1606 Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about litigate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Engage in legal proceedings.
Institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against.
He was warned that the district attorney would process him

Origin

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).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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