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summons

summons

32 7.5
An official paper that orders someone to appear in court
  • noun
  • /ˈsʌmənz/
  • Formal
translation icon : citación
  • So if you're an adult and you jump a turnstile, you should get arrested or at least a summons, right?
  • receive a summons
  • issue a summons
  • jury summons

We can we use trespass summonses for that kind of control.

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Examples

Synonyms

subpoena
vssummons
  • Formal
208 9.1

A written order from a court telling someone to go to court or bring papers

covers any official order to appear, not only witness attendance
process
vssummons
  • Formal
168 8.3

A court document that orders someone to appear in a civil case

is a general appearance order, not tied only to civil defendant roles
citation
vssummons
  • Formal
32 6.4

An official paper ordering someone to appear in court

is the general official order requiring appearance across legal situations
subpoena duces tecum
vssummons
  • Formal
1 9.9

A court order telling someone to come and bring certain documents

is focused on appearance alone, not the duty to produce documents
subpoena ad testificandum
vssummons
  • Formal
9.9

A court order telling a person to go to court and testify as a witness

is the broader order for appearance, not limited to testimony
process of monition
vssummons
  • UK
9.9

A formal notice given after a claim asking people to explain why the court should not enter judgment against them

is the simpler official order for appearing, without the post-claim timing
monition
vssummons
  • UK
9.9

A formal court order telling people to appear and explain their side

is the general legal order used across courts, not limited by domain

Antonyms

1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

to discharge
  • Formal
100 4.4

Officially release someone from a duty, job, or responsibility

How Official

to mandate
  • Formal
169 4.9
summons
  • Formal
32 7.5
recall
  • Formal
9 5.1
order
3.0
request
1.0

Surface Forms

summons singular
summonses plural

Morphology

summons = summon (semi-transparent) = summon + s

The legal noun is clearly related to the verb 'summon' ('call to appear'), but the document sense is a specialized lexicalized extension rather than a fully regular everyday formation.

Etymology

Summons comes from an old Latin verb made of sub- 'under' and monere 'to warn or call', so it originally meant a formal 'calling'. That's why a summons is an official order that tells you to appear in court.