noun
: an original writ or summons issued by authority of a court as the foundation of and first step in a lawsuit, including always a notice to the defendant when to appear to make his defense and often an order to arrest the defendant, seize or attach his property, or garnishee a claim due from a third person to the defendant or an order that the defendant do or refrain from doing a specified act or that an officer of the court do a specified act in connection with the suit — distinguished from final process and mesne process