| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | somondre, from Latin summonere 'to remind secretly', from sub- 'secretly' + monere 'to warn' |
| |||||||||
sum‧mon
[transitive] formal
[transitive] formal1 to order someone to come to a place :
Robert summoned the waiter for the bill.
Robert summoned the waiter for the bill.2 to officially order someone to come to a court of law :
3 also summon something up to try very hard to have enough of something such as courage, energy, or strength, because you need it :
He had to summon the energy to finish the race.
He had to summon the energy to finish the race.4 to arrange for a meeting to take place and order people to come to it [= convene]:
He summoned a meeting of business leaders.
summon a meeting/conference etc
He summoned a meeting of business leaders.summon up something
phrasal verb1 if something summons up a memory, thought, or image, it makes you remember it or think of it [= conjure up]:
The smell summoned up memories of family holidays by the sea.
The smell summoned up memories of family holidays by the sea.2 to try very hard to have enough courage, energy, or strength, because you need it :
Ruth took a deep breath, summoned up her courage, and told him the truth.
Ruth took a deep breath, summoned up her courage, and told him the truth.