summons

Etymology 1

From Middle English somouns (“order or command to do something”), borrowed from Old French sumunce (modern French semonce), from Vulgar Latin *summonsa, a noun use of the feminine past participle of summoneō, summonēre (“to summon”).

noun

1. A call to do something, especially to come.
   He sent to summon the seditious, and to offer pardon[…]; but neither summons nor pardon was any thing regarded. 1630, John Hayward, The Life and Raigne of King Edward VI
   this summons […] unfit either to dispute or disobey 1661, John Fell, The Life of the Most Learned, Reverend and Pious Dr. H. Hammond
   special summonses by the king 1818, Henry Hallam, View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages
2. (law) A notice summoning someone to appear in court, as a defendant, juror or witness.
3. (military) A demand for surrender.

verb

1. (transitive) To serve someone with a summons.
   It proposes that those held in the prototype Selfridges cells be kept for a maximum of four hours to have their identity confirmed and be charged, summonsed or given a fine. 15 March 2007, The Guardian, page 1

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

verb

1. third-person singular simple present indicative of summon