Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Summons \Sum"mons\, n.; pl. {Summonses}. [OE. somouns, OF.
   sumunse, semonse, semonce, F. semonce, semondre to summon,
   OF. p. p. semons. See {Summon}, v.]
   1. 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.

            Special summonses by the king.        --Hallam.

            This summons . . . unfit either to dispute or
            disobey.                              --Bp. Fell.

            He sent to summon the seditious, and to offer
            pardon; but neither summons nor pardon was regarded.
                                                  --Sir J.
                                                  Hayward.

   2. (Law) 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.

   3. (Mil.) A demand to surrender.

Summons \Sum"mons\, v. t.
   To summon. [R. or Colloq.] --Swift.

Source : WordNet®

summons
     n 1: a request to be present; "they came at his bidding" [syn: {bidding}]
     2: an order to appear in person at a given place and time
     3: 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 [syn:
        {process}]
     v : call in an official matter, such as to attend court [syn: {summon},
          {cite}]