subpoena

Meanings

Noun

• A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court to answer a plaintiff's claim.
• A writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony.

Verb

• To summon with a subpoena.

Origin

• First attested with this spelling in 1623 , from earlier subpena, from Middle English sub pena, from Medieval Latin: sub and poena, the beginning of the original subpoena used in the Court of Chancery.