Summonses

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Summons \Sum"mons\, n.; pl. {Summonses}. [OE. somouns, OF.
     sumunse, semonse, semonce, F. semonce, semondre to summon,
     OF. p. p. semons. See {Summon}, v.]
     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.


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              Special summonses by the king.        --Hallam.
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              This summons . . . unfit either to dispute or
              disobey.                              --Bp. Fell.
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              He sent to summon the seditious, and to offer
              pardon; but neither summons nor pardon was regarded.
                                                    --Sir J.
                                                    Hayward.
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     2. (Law) 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.
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     3. (Mil.) A demand to surrender.
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