summons

Universal Words noun, verb noun (plural summonses ) 1 (AmE also citation) an order to appear in a court of law: to issue a summons against sb * The police have been unable to serve a summons on him. * She received a summons to appear in court the following week. 2 an order to come and see sb: to obey a royal summons verb ~ sb (for sth) to order sb to appear in a court of law SYNSUMMON [VN] She was summonsed for speeding. * [VNtoinf] He was summonsed to appear in court.