Dictionary definition · summons
noun
- a request to be present"they came at his bidding"
- an order to appear in person at a given place and time
- 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
verb
- call in an official matter, such as to attend court
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).