Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
SUMMONS
I. noun (plural summonses)
Etymology: Middle English somouns, from Anglo-French somonse, from past participle of somondre
Date: 13th century
the act of summoning, a warning or citation to appear in court: as, a written notification to be served on a person as a warning to appear in court at a day specified to answer to the plaintiff, a subpoena to appear as a witness, something (as a call) that summons,
II. transitive verb
Date: 1683
summon 2