summons
summons
Definition
sum·mons (-ənz)
noun pl. summonses -·monses
- an order or command to come, attend, appear, or perform some action
- Law an official order to appear in court, specif. to respond as a defendant to a charge; also, the writ containing such an order
- a call, command, knock, or other signal that summons
Etymology: ME somounce < Anglo-Fr somonse < OFr sumunse < pp. of somondre: see summon
transitive verb
Informal to serve a court summons upon
summons
Synonyms
summons
n.
summons
Law Definition
n
A written notice for a person to appear before a court
under penalty of having a judgment entered against that person for failing to
appear; a written notice to a person to appear for jury duty; a written notice
to appear in court to testify as a witness in a case. Synonymous with subpoena.
summons
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- originate: The court set aside the previous grant of leave made on the husband's originating summons.
- obey: Not one man, it is said, obeyed the summons.
- serve: He got served a court summons in the middle of the set.
- receive: Speeding I have received a summons for a speeding offense.
- ignore: If you ignore the summons, a warrant can be issued for your arrest.
- answer: What happens if I don't answer the summons?
Adjective modifier
- urgent: Several months later he got an urgent summons to an infirmary, where a woman, dying of cancer, wanted to see him.
- such: The acceptance of such summons meant the acceptance of Shi`ism.
Modifies a noun
- procedure: If the summons procedure is used, there are recommended time guidelines.
- cost: The two persons listed in the report were only required to pay summons costs.
Noun used with modifier
- witness: A separate witness summons must be served on each witness.
- judgment: Fee 11.7 is not payable where the attachment of earnings order is made on the hearing of a judgment summons.
- court: He got served a court summons in the middle of the set.
- county: The County court proceedings commence with the issue of a county court summons.
Infinitive complement
- appear: Action taken against licensees included them being issued with a police warning or fixed penalty notice, or summonsed to appear in court.
Preposition: in
- court: A claimant begins an action for an order for possession of residential property by way of a summons in a county court.
Preposition: under
- section: Describe briefly to the Magistrate's bench that you need a summons under section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Preposition: for
summons Quotes
All human things are subject to decay, And, when fate summons, monarchs must obey.
Browse dictionary entries near summons
- summoner
- summoned
- summon up
- summon
- summitry
- summitries
- summiteer
- summit
- summing
- summery
- summonses
- summum bonum
- summum bonum (Latin)
- Sumner
- sumo
- sumo (wrestling)
- sump
- sump pump
- sumpter
- sumptuary
