Summons

Part of speech: noun (n.)

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. Special summonses by the king. Hallam. This summons . . . unfit either to dispute or disobey. Bp. Fell. He sent to summon the seditious, and to offer pardon; but neither summons nor pardon was regarded. Sir J. Hayward.

2. 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.

3. A demand to surrender.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To summon. [R. or Colloq.] Swift.