I. sum ‧ mons 1 /ˈsʌmənz/ BrE AmE noun ( plural summonses ) [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: somonse , from the past participle of somondre ; ⇨ ↑ summon ]
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) .
II. summons 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive usually passive]
to order someone to appear in a court of law:
She has been summonsed to appear in court.
Basil was summonsed for wounding a police officer.