litig-, litiga-, litigat- +

Latin for to litigate; that is, to carry on a legal suit (litem agere), either as a plaintiff or a defendant.

To claim or to dispute by court action, to test or to try the validity of a claim by legal action.

1. Someone who is involved in a disagreement that is being examined in a court of law: It's possible that a litigant will find that his or her case will fit into two or three legal categories.
2. A person who is involved in a lawsuit or who is suing another person or is being sued by someone: Mr. Thompson was a litigant who was defending a claim in court.

An abnormal anxiety about being sued or being involved in lawsuits: Jack, who was quite poor and having litigaphobia, was not only terrified of lawyers, but also feared any kind of litigation procedures where he would have to pay money, which he didn't have, or even have to go to jail!

1. To engage in legal proceedings: The company's unwillingness to make a deal increased Mrs.Long's desire to litigate.
2. To institute legal proceedings against someone or an organization; to file a suit against: Those people involved agreed to litigate all disputes in the court the following day.
3. Etymology: from the early 17th century, from Latin litigat-, past participle of litigare, lit-, "lawsuit" + agere, "to drive".

1. The process of carrying on lawsuits or a specific lawsuit: Mrs. Big is involved in litigation against the city.
2. The use of the legal system to settle a dispute or a disagreement: Although the court proceedings took place during the past month, the case is still in litigation.
3. The act or process of bringing about or contesting a lawsuit or all lawsuits collectively: The workers' complaints are still in litigation.

A lawyer, or lawyers, who specialize in litigation; usually, an alternate term for for "trial lawyers".

She is a famous and successful litigator."

1. Regarding an inclination or a pretence of an inclination to dispute or to disagree, even to engage in law suits: Mrs. Small had a litigious and acrimonious attitude instead of trying to work things out with negotiations.
2. Referring to a person who constantly brings or who prolongs legal actions; particularly when the legal maneuvers are unnecessary or unfounded: Litigious people often enjoy legal battles, the controversy, the courtroom, and the spotlight, so they use the courts to punish enemies, to seek profits, and to pursue minor issues which do not deserve judicial attention.
3. Etymology: from the late 14th century, "fond of disputes", from Latin litigiosus "contentious, quarrelsome"; from litigium, "dispute, strife" which is related to litigare, "to dispute, to quarrel, to strive," from litem, "lawsuit, dispute, quarrel, strife" + root of agere, "to drive, to conduct".

Paranoia in which the patient institutes or threatens to institute legal action because of an imagined persecution.

A reference to how a person has the tendency to sue someone in court; excessively ready to go to court: Mr. Timmons litigiously demanded evidence in the case presented in the law court.

Mrs. Lawson was litigiously inclined to dispute or to disagree, even to quickly engage in law suits instead of trying to negotiate an agreement.

The act of disputing or disagreeing with others, especially through civil law suits: Mrs. Thomas's litigiousness certainly was part of her disposition because she had a strong impulse to engage in lawsuits.