summons
/ˈsʌmənz/ (bre, ipa) · [sˈʌmənz] /ˈsʌmənz/ (ame, ipa) · [sˈʌmənz] /ˈsə-mənz How to pronounce summons (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsʌm.ənz/ (bre, ipa) · [sˈʌmənz] /ˈsʌm.ənz/ (ame, ipa)
summons — noun
- summonssingular
- summonsesplural
1. A written order from a court that requires a person to attend a legal hearing, t
A written order from a court that requires a person to attend a legal hearing, typically because they are part of a lawsuit.
Padma received a summons to appear in court next Monday.
summons + to-infinitive (purpose)
If you ignore a court summons, the judge may issue a warrant for your arrest.
The lawyer studied the summons carefully before preparing her response.
Brooke was served with a summons at her front door early in the morning.
用法筆記
A summons is the document that starts a civil lawsuit. It is different from a subpoena, which orders a witness to give evidence.
常見錯誤
2. A formal request or command for someone to come to a particular place, especiall
A formal request or command for someone to come to a particular place, especially from someone in authority.
The manager sent a summons for all staff to attend the emergency meeting.
summons + for + person + to-infinitive
Hamza received a summons from the principal's office and wondered what he had done wrong.
A royal summons reached the castle, ordering the knight to appear before the king.
Allison ignored the summons from the committee and faced a formal reprimand.
- call
Less formal than 'summons'; can be used in everyday situations.
- invitation
An invitation is polite and optional; a summons is a command that expects compliance.
- dismissal
Dismissal releases someone from attendance; a summons requires attendance.
summons — verb
- summonspresent simple I / you / we / they
- summonses3rd person singular
- summonsing-ing form
- summonsedpast simple
1. To officially direct someone to go to a particular place, especially when a pers
To officially direct someone to go to a particular place, especially when a person in authority requests their presence.
Rafael was summoned to the principal's office to discuss his science project.
Priya was summoned to the head office to discuss the new marketing campaign with senior directors.
passive: be summoned + to-infinitive
The general summoned Tomás to headquarters for an urgent briefing.
Dahlia was summoned by the committee to explain her research in person.
- dismiss
To allow someone to leave, the opposite of ordering them to come.
文法句型
summon + object + to + place
be summoned + to-infinitive
用法筆記
This sense is frequently used in the passive form, especially in news reports ('He was summoned to the manager's office').
常見錯誤
2. To use legal authority to require a person to appear before a judge, for example
To use legal authority to require a person to appear before a judge, for example because they are accused of a crime or have information about a case.
Allison was summoned to court as a witness in the fraud investigation.
passive: be summoned to court as [role]
The company was summoned to answer a lawsuit filed by its former employees.
If the police summon you for questioning, you should contact a lawyer first.
Hamza was summoned before the magistrate to answer the trespassing charge.
文法句型
be summoned to court
be summoned as + role
用法筆記
This sense is most common in the passive voice ('be summoned to court'). For the legal document itself, use the noun 'summons'.