summons
gb/sˈʌmənz/ us/sˈʌmənz/
C1
English
idézés, berendelés, felszólítás, beidéz
NOUN
C1
LEGAL
1
idézés
C1
Usage pattern:
a summons to [court]; a summons for [someone]; issue/serve/receive a summons
She received a summons to appear in court next month.
Idézést kapott, hogy jövő hónapban jelenjen meg a bíróságon.
The company was served with a summons after the lawsuit was filed.
A kereset benyújtása után a cégnek kézbesítették az idézést.
Ignoring a court summons can lead to fines or other penalties.
Learner examples
I got a summons from the court.
Idézést kaptam a bíróságtól.
You must not ignore a summons.
Nem szabad figyelmen kívül hagynod az idézést.
Common mistake:
Summons is a singular noun even though it ends in -s: say a summons, not a summon. The plural is summonses.
Meaning
Legal order to appear
Collocations
court summons
|legal summons
|issue a summons
|serve a summons
|receive a summons
|answer a summons
|ignore a summons
|summons to appear
|jury summons
|witness summons
Synonyms
subpoena (often specifically orders someone to testify or produce evidence)
|
citation (a legal notice, especially in some legal systems or for minor offenses)
|
notice (broader and less specifically a court order)
Themes
law
|courts
|documents
|legal_process
Definition
An official legal document that tells someone they must go to court or respond to a case.
A formal legal order, usually in writing, requiring someone to appear in court, respond to a legal claim, or do something required by a court.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
berendelés
C1
felszólítás
B2
Usage pattern:
a summons from [someone]; a summons to [place/event]
The mayor's sudden summons brought department heads back to city hall.
A polgármester hirtelen berendelése visszahívta az osztályvezetőket a városházára.
He treated the email as a summons to an emergency meeting.
Úgy kezelte az e-mailt, mint egy rendkívüli értekezletre szóló berendelést.
The children reluctantly answered their grandmother's summons from the kitchen.
Learner examples
I received a summons from my boss.
Berendelést kaptam a főnökömtől.
The teacher's summons brought the students back inside.
A tanár felszólítására a diákok visszamentek.
Common mistake:
In everyday speech, call, request, or invitation is usually more natural than summons.
Meaning
Formal call to attend
Collocations
urgent summons
|sudden summons
|official summons
|receive a summons
|obey a summons
|respond to a summons
|summons from the boss
|summons to a meeting
|royal summons
Synonyms
call (more general and more common in everyday speech)
|
request (less forceful and not necessarily from authority)
|
order (stronger and more direct)
Antonyms
dismissal (an act of sending someone away rather than calling them in)
Themes
communication
|authority
|workplace
Definition
A formal call or request telling someone to come somewhere.
A formal or urgent call, request, or order to come to a place, attend an event, or respond to someone, especially from someone in authority.
VERB
C1
LEGAL
3
beidéz
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] summonses [someone] to [court]; [someone] is summonsed for [an offense]
He was summonsed to appear before the magistrates.
Beidézték, hogy megjelenjen a bíróság előtt.
Police summonsed the driver for driving without insurance.
A rendőrség beidézte a sofőrt, mert biztosítás nélkül vezetett.
The court can summons witnesses if they refuse to attend voluntarily.
Learner examples
She was summonsed to court.
Beidézték a bíróságra.
He was summonsed for speeding.
Beidézték gyorshajtás miatt.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this legal verb with summon. In ordinary uses, say summon help or summon courage, not summons help or summons courage.
Meaning
Order by legal summons
Collocations
summons someone to court
|be summonsed to court
|be summonsed to appear
|be summonsed for speeding
|summonsed before the magistrates
|summons a defendant
Synonyms
cite (legally require someone to appear or respond, often in formal or official contexts)
|
subpoena (usually requires someone to testify or produce evidence)
|
serve (means officially deliver legal papers, often a summons)
Themes
law
|courts
|legal_process
Definition
To officially order someone to go to court by sending them a summons.
To serve someone with a summons or formally order them, by a legal summons, to appear in court.
Grammar
Dictionary form
summons
IPA
GB/sˈʌmənz/
US/sˈʌmənz/
Syllables & stress
sum - mons (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sum)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: summons
- Plural: summonses
Expressions
answer a summons
1/ˈænsɚ ə sˈʌmənz/
fixed phrase
legal
Respond to legal order
To do what a summons requires, such as going to court or replying to a legal case.
Examples
- The defendant failed to answer the summons by the deadline.
- She answered the summons by appearing in court with her lawyer.
- If you do not answer a summons, the court may enter a default judgment.
Learner examples
- You must answer a summons on time.
at someone's summons
1/ˈæt sˈʌmwˌʌnz sˈʌmənz/
fixed phrase
formal
When someone calls
Because someone has formally called you or told you to come.
Examples
- At the governor's summons, officials returned to the capital for emergency talks.
- They gathered in the conference room at the CEO's summons.
- At her father's summons, Clara joined the guests in the library.
Learner examples
- They came at the teacher's summons.
jury summons
1/d͡ʒˈʊɹi sˈʌmənz/
fixed phrase
legal
Notice for jury service
A letter or notice saying you may have to serve on a jury.
Examples
- I got a jury summons in the mail for next month.
- The jury summons explained how to request a postponement.
- Ignoring a jury summons can result in penalties.
Learner examples
- My dad received a jury summons.
serve someone with a summons
1/sˈɚv sˈʌmwˌʌn wˈɪθ ə sˈʌmənz/
fixed phrase
legal
Legally deliver a summons
To officially give someone a legal document telling them to go to court or respond to a case.
Examples
- A process server served him with a summons at his office.
- The landlord served a summons on the tenant after months of unpaid rent.
- You must respond quickly if you are served with a summons.
Learner examples
- He was served with a summons.
summons and complaint
1/sˈʌmənz ˈænd kəmplˈeɪnt/
fixed phrase
legal
Initial lawsuit papers
Legal papers that tell someone a lawsuit has started against them and explain the claims.
Examples
- The defendant was served with a summons and complaint at her home.
- The summons and complaint gave the company 30 days to respond.
- After receiving the summons and complaint, he contacted a lawyer.
Learner examples
- She received a summons and complaint.
witness summons
1/wˈɪtnəs sˈʌmənz/
fixed phrase
legal
Order for witness attendance
A court order telling a witness to come to court.
Examples
- The prosecutor applied for a witness summons to make him attend the trial.
- She received a witness summons requiring her to give evidence.
- A witness summons may also require a person to bring documents to court.
Learner examples
- He received a witness summons.