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summons

Syllabification: (sum·mons)
Pronunciation: /ˈsəmənz/
Translate summons | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of summons

noun (plural summonses)

  • an order to appear before a judge or magistrate, or the writ containing it:a summons for nonpayment of a parking ticket
  • an authoritative or urgent call to someone to be present or to do something: [with infinitive]:they might receive a summons to fly to France next day

verb

[with object] chiefly Law
  • serve (someone) with a summons: [with object and infinitive]:he has been summonsed to appear in court next month

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French sumunse, from an alteration of Latin summonita, feminine past participle of summonere (see summon)

summons in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of summons in the British & World English dictionary

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