summons
/ˈsʌm.ənz/
noun
Origin
Latin
submonere — to warn privately or secretly
Overview
Meaning Now
- An order to appear before a judge or magistrate, or a writ commanding such an appearance.
- A call or authoritative command to attend or do something.
Literal older meaning
a calling up
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
sumounce
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term stems from the legal practice of notifying a defendant to appear in court. Unlike standard English words ending in '-s' that are already plural, 'summons' is a singular noun derived from an Old French infinitive, which necessitated the distinct plural 'summonses' to avoid confusion.
Evolution
- Latin
submonere
“to give a hint, to prompt, to warn”
Base of the legal terminology
- Old French
somondre
“to summon, to call”
- Middle English
sumouns
“an official call to court”
- Modern English
summons
“a legal writ”
Pluralized as 'summonses' due to Latinate influence
Connections
Word parts
sub-
prefix
under
monere
root
to warn/advise
Related across languages
French
sommation
formal demand or summons
Spanish
amonestar
to admonish or warn
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Related to summons
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.