SUMMONS

summons, process

(noun) a writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant’s attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendant

summons

(noun) an order to appear in person at a given place and time

bidding, summons

(noun) a request to be present; “they came at his bidding”

summon, summons, cite

(verb) call in an official matter, such as to attend court

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Noun

summons (plural summonses)

A call to do something, especially to come.

(legal) A notice summoning someone to appear in court, as a defendant, juror or witness.

(military) A demand for surrender.

Verb

summons (third-person singular simple present summonses, present participle summonsing, simple past and past participle summonsed)

(transitive) To serve someone with a summons. [17th C.]

Etymology 2

Verb

summons

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of summon

Anagrams

• musmons

Source: Wiktionary

Sum"mons, n.; pl. Summonses. Etym: [OE. somouns, OF. sumunse, semonse, semonce, F. semonce, semondre to summon, OF. p.p. semons. See Summon, v.]

1. The act of summoning; a call by authority, or by the command of a superior, to appear at a place named, or to attend to some duty. Special summonses by the king. Hallam. This summons . . . unfit either to dispute or disobey. Bp. Fell. He sent to summon the seditious, and to offer pardon; but neither summons nor pardon was regarded. Sir J. Hayward.

2. (Law)

Definition: A warning or citation to appear in court; a written notification signed by the proper officer, to be served on a person, warning him to appear in court at a day specified, to answer to the plaintiff, testify as a witness, or the like.

3. (Mil.)

Definition: A demand to surrender.

Sum"mons, v. t.

Definition: To summon. [R. or Colloq.] Swift.

SUMMON

Sum"mon, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Summoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Summoning.] Etym: [OE. somonen, OF. sumundre, semondre, F. semondre, from (assumed) LL. summonêre, for L. summonere to give a hint; sub under + monere to admonish, to warn. See Monition, and cf. Submonish.]

1. To call, bid, or cite; to notify to come to appear; -- often with up. Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood. Shak. Trumpets summon him to war. Dryden.

2. To give notice to, or command to appear, as in court; to cite by authority; as, to summon witnesses.

3. (Mil.)

Definition: To call upon to surrender, as a fort.

Syn.

– To call; cite; notify; convene; convoke; excite; invite; bid. See Call.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition