WordWeb Online

1. A request to be present
   - 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
   - process

1. Call in an official matter, such as to attend court
   - summon, cite

1. Ask to come
   "summon a lawyer"
    
2. Gather or bring together
   "Summon all your courage"
   - muster, rally, come up, muster up
    
3. Make ready for action or use
   - mobilize, mobilise [Brit], marshal

Derived forms: summonsed, summonses, summonsing

See also: summoning

Type of: call, collect, garner, gather, invitation, judicial writ, order, pull together, send for, writ

Encyclopedia: Summon