Definitions of summons

1. call in an official matter, such as to attend court

2. a writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendant

3. an order to appear in person at a given place and time

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. A demand to surrender.

7. A paper prepared by the plaintiff and issued by a court that informs the defendant that she has been sued. The summons requires that the defendant file a response with the court -- or in many small claims courts, simply appear in person on an appointed day -- within a given time period or risk losing the case under the terms of a default judgment.

8. A summoning or an authoritative call: a call to appear, esp. in court.

9. A call by authority or the command of a superior; a citation to appear in court; a writ to notify to a party to appear in court on a day mentioned therein.

10. A call by authority to appear at some particular place, or in a court; the written or printed document by which such call is given; a call or invitation to surrender.