Obs. Forms: α. 3 someni, 3–4 someny, 4–5 somene, 5–6 somen. β. 4 somne. [Variant of somony, etc., SUMMON v., with weakening and subsequent elision of the second vowel. See also SOMPNE v. and SUMNE v.] trans. To summon.
α. 1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3764. Is poer he let someny þat ysprad was wel wyde. Ibid., 10379. Þe pope … alle þe bissops of engelond let someni to rome.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 357. If þei somene symple men for þis accusing.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXII. 214. Grace … consailede hym and conscience the comune to someny.
1401. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 89. Ȝe … somen men and threten hem, bot if thai ȝif ȝou gode.
β. c. 1300. Leg. Rood (1871), 38. Þo þe giwes i-somned were, hi hadde schortliche gret fere.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 250. Þei ben hurlid & somnyd fro day to day, fro fer place to ferþere.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 201. Pictagoras … somnede hym to fore iuges.
Hence † Somning vbl. sb. Obs.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxii. 108 b. To warne the parties defendauntz thurgh somnyng ayene.
1529–30. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 349. Paid to a Somoner for Somenyng of Mr hiltons, preist, ij d.
