summons

American  

[suhm-uhnz] / ˈsʌm ənz /

noun

plural

summonses

1. an authoritative command, message, or signal by which one is summoned.

2. a request, demand, or call to do something.

   a summons to surrender.

3. Law.

   1. a call or citation by authority to appear before a court or a judicial officer.

   2. the writ by which the call is made.

4. an authoritative call or notice to appear at a specified place, as for a particular purpose or duty.

5. a call issued for the meeting of an assembly or parliament.

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verb (used with object)

1. to serve with a summons; summon.

summons British  

/ ˈsʌmənz /

noun

1. a call, signal, or order to do something, esp to appear in person or attend at a specified place or time

2. 1. an official order requiring a person to attend court, either to answer a charge or to give evidence

   2. the writ making such an order Compare warrant

3. a call or command given to the members of an assembly to convene a meeting

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verb

1. to take out a summons against (a person)

Other Word Forms

• nonsummons noun
• resummons noun

Etymology

Origin of summons

1250–1300; Middle English somons < Anglo-French; Old French somonse < Vulgar Latin *summonsa, for Latin summonita, feminine past participle of summonēre; summon

Example Sentences

He summons a gentler touch to pay tribute to the vastness of Shakespeare’s empathy.

From The Wall Street Journal

There by the bed lay my prison bag, packed and ready as it had been since the summons from the chief of police.

From Literature

‘In the end,’ he whispered, ‘he summons -an elemental.’

From Literature

Of those, just 9% resulted in someone being charged or summonsed.

From BBC

Dawud Burke, D4vd's father, fought against the summons in a Texas court, and in doing so included portions of material from the California case that had not been previously available to the public.

From BBC

Related Words

• indictment
• subpoena
• warrant
• writ