Hypertext Webster Gateway: "summons"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Summons \Sum"mons\, n.; pl. {Summonses}. [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) 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.) A demand to surrender.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Summons \Sum"mons\, v. t.
To summon. [R. or Colloq.] --Swift.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
summons
n 1: a request to be present; "they came at his bidding" [syn: {bidding}]
2: an order to appear in person at a given place and time
3: 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 [syn:
{process}]
v : call in an official matter, such as to attend court [syn: {summon},
{cite}]
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