summons Hear it!

summons Definition

sum·mons (-ənz)

noun pl. -·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
  2. 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.
  • legal: The registered agent may also be served legal summonses in a lawsuit.
  • 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.