“summons” – English explanatory dictionary

noun 1. an official order to go to see someone ○ He received a summons to see the president. 2. an official order or document telling someone to appear in court to be tried for a criminal offence or to defend a civil action ○ He threw away the summons and went on holiday to Spain. □ to serve a summons on someone to give someone a summons officially ■ verb to order someone to appear in court ○ He was summonsed as a witness at the magistrates’ court.

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.

v. t. To summon. [R. or Colloq.] Swift.