Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: somonse, from the past participle of somondre; SUMMON

summons

1 noun
     
Related topics: Law
sum‧mons1 plural summonses [countable]
SCLSCL an official order to appear in a court of law:
The judge must issue a summons.
He had been accused of a drug offence but police had been unable to serve a summons on him (=officially order him to appear in court).
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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