summons

[ suhm-uhnz ]

See synonyms for summons on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural sum·mons·es.

an authoritative command, message, or signal by which one is summoned.
a request, demand, or call to do something: a summons to surrender.

Law.
- a call or citation by authority to appear before a court or a judicial officer.
- the writ by which the call is made.
an authoritative call or notice to appear at a specified place, as for a particular purpose or duty.
a call issued for the meeting of an assembly or parliament.

verb (used with object)

to serve with a summons; summon.

Origin of summons

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

Other words from summons

non·sum·mons, noun
re·sum·mons, noun, plural re·sum·mons·es.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use summons in a sentence

Summonses for low-level offenses like public drinking and urination fell 94 percent—from 4,831 to 300.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown | Batya Ungar-Sargon | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
He spent nine hours in jail and he was issued three summonses.
Arrests for Protesters, Not Bankers | Michael Daly | October 6, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
I will yield prompt response to all summonses, I having knowledge of same, Providence alone preventing.
The Modern Ku Klux Klan | Henry Peck Fry
As soon as he could be located writs, summonses, and orders to appear and show cause showered on Joe.
The Boss of Wind River | David Goodger (goodger@python.org)
This gave the Manchester Court jurisdiction to issue the summonses, which were for sums of under two pounds.
The Law and the Poor | Edward Abbott Parry

Some time ago I made a careful examination of some 460 judgment summonses taken consecutively.
The Law and the Poor | Edward Abbott Parry
It is full of summonses, copies of affidavits, draft instructions, and I know not what.
Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 103, August 6, 1892 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for summons

summons

/ (ˈsʌmənz) /

nounplural -monses

a call, signal, or order to do something, esp to appear in person or attend at a specified place or time
- an official order requiring a person to attend court, either to answer a charge or to give evidence
- the writ making such an order: Compare warrant

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

verb

to take out a summons against (a person)

Origin of summons

C13: from Old French somonse, from somondre to summon

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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