Definition of SUMMONS

summons

Meanings

Plural: summonses

Noun

  • a request to be present
  • an order to appear in person at a given place and time
  • 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
  • A call to do something, especially to come.
  • A notice summoning someone to appear in court, as a defendant, juror or witness.
  • A demand for surrender.
  • plural of summon

Verb

  • call in an official matter, such as to attend court
  • call in an official matter, such as to attend court
  • ask to come
  • gather or bring together
  • make ready for action or use
  • To serve someone with a summons.
  • third-person singular simple present indicative of summon

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English somouns (“order or command to do something”), borrowed from Old French sumunce (modern French semonce), from Vulgar Latin *summonsa, a noun use of the feminine past participle of summoneō, summonēre (“to summon”).

Synonyms

bidding, cite, come up, marshal, mobilise, mobilize, muster, muster up, process, rally, summon

Scrabble Score: 11

summons is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
summons is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
summons is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

summons is a valid Words With Friends word