1. [n]  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
2. [n]  an order to appear in person at a given place and time
3. [n]  a request to be present; "they came at his bidding"
4. [v]  call in an official matter, such as to attend court

Summons
This, Tall`s third volume of poetry, is the recipient of the 1999 Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry, selected by Charles Simic.

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1. \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.
   

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