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summons Definition

sum·mons (-ənz)

noun pl. summonses -·monses

    1. an order or command to come, attend, appear, or perform some action
    2. Law an official order to appear in court, specif. to respond as a defendant to a charge; also, the writ containing such an order
  1. 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.

  1. Legal call

    subpoena, writ, warrant; see indictment.

  2. Invocation

    cry, bell, calling; see call 4.

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

  • offense: Speeding I have received a summons for a speeding offense.
  • direction: The plaintiff was ordered to serve a statement of claim and the summons for directions was adjourned generally with liberty to restore.
summons Quotes

All human things are subject to decay, And, when fate summons, monarchs must obey.

—Dryden,John

Browse dictionary entries near summons

  1. summoner
  2. summoned
  3. summon up
  4. summon
  5. summitry
  6. summitries
  7. summiteer
  8. summit
  9. summing
  10. summery
  1. summonses
  2. summum bonum
  3. summum bonum (Latin)
  4. Sumner
  5. sumo
  6. sumo (wrestling)
  7. sump
  8. sump pump
  9. sumpter
  10. sumptuary