ˈsəmən verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English sumnen, somenen, somonen, somounen, from Old French somondre, semondre, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin summonĕre, alteration of Latin summonēre to remind secretly, give a hint to, from sub- + monēre to remind, warn — more at mind
transitive verb
1. : to issue a call to convene : convoke
summon a council of state
summon a lodge meeting
2. : to command by service of a summons or other statutory notice to appear in court : cite
summon a jury
summon witnesses
the same defendants were summoned to court again — Current Biography
3. : to call upon for specified action
summon one to be in readiness
4. : to bid to come or go : command or request the presence or service of : send for : call
summon a physician
bell still summons the parishioners to worship — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
5. : to evoke especially by an act of the will : stir or bring to activity : call forth : call up : bring together : conjure , arouse
summoning all his strength he arose to speak — S.E.Morison
each conflict summoned heroic effort from the nation — Dixon Wecter
when tunes could not be summoned by turning a knob — Nancy Mitford
poetry of such pure quality cannot be summoned at will — C.D.Lewis
— often used with up
endure hardship and summon up energy for a struggle — John Dewey
can summon up arguments from businessmen themselves — H.T.Simmons
intransitive verb
: to issue a summons