'Summons' definitions:
Definition of 'summons'
From: WordNet
noun
A request to be present; "they came at his bidding" [syn: bidding, summons]
noun
An order to appear in person at a given place and time
noun
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: summons, process]
verb
Definition of 'Summons'
From: GCIDE
- Summons \Sum"mons\, v. t. To summon. [R. or Colloq.] --Swift. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Summons'
From: GCIDE
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- Special summonses by the king. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]
- This summons . . . unfit either to dispute or disobey. --Bp. Fell. [1913 Webster]
- He sent to summon the seditious, and to offer pardon; but neither summons nor pardon was regarded. --Sir J. Hayward. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 3. (Mil.) A demand to surrender. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'summons'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- alarm,
- alarum,
- Angelus,
- Angelus bell,
- battle cry,
- beck,
- beck and call,
- bid,
- bid come,
- biddance,
- bidding,
- birdcall,
- bugle call,
- call,
- call away,
- call back,
- call for,
- call forth,
- call in,
- call out,
- call together,
- call up,
- call-up,
- calling,
- calling forth,
- certiorari,
- citation,
- cite,
- compulsory military service,
- conjure,
- conjure up,
- conscription,
- convene,
- convocation,
- convoke,
- demand,
- draft,
- draft call,
- drafting,
- engraved invitation,
- enlistment,
- enrollment,
- evocation,
- evoke,
- garnishment,
- habeas corpus,
- impressment,
- indent,
- induction,
- invitation,
- invite,
- invocation,
- invoke,
- last post,
- levy,
- mobilization,
- monition,
- moose call,
- muster,
- muster up,
- nod,
- order up,
- page,
- preconization,
- preconize,
- press,
- rallying cry,
- rebel yell,
- recall,
- recruiting,
- recruitment,
- requisition,
- reveille,
- selective service,
- send after,
- send for,
- serve,
- subpoena,
- summon,
- summon forth,
- summon up,
- taps,
- trumpet call,
- venire,
- venire de novo,
- venire facias,
- war cry,
- warrant,
- whistle,
- writ,
- writ of summons