[f. prec. Cf. obs. F. semoncer, -ser.]
1. trans. = SUMMON v. 1, 3, 4, 5, 5 b. Now rare.
1658. Franck, North. Mem. (1821), 34. I know not except he’s come to summons us home.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., To summons a Place, is to send a Drum, or Trumpet, to command the Governor to surrender.
1772. Fletcher, Appeal, Wks. 1795, L. 62. The bait of pleasure appears, corrupt nature summonses all her powers.
1802. Marian Moore, Lascelles, II. 75. She was obliged to summons all her fortitude.
1830. W. Taylor, Hist. Surv. Germ. Poetry, II. 309. His attendants … came to summons him for the journey.
2. To cite before a court or a judge or magistrate; to take out a summons against.
1780. M. Madan, Thelyphthora, I. ii. 52. A woman had but to summons her seducer before the judges.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xxxviii. Say another word and I’ll summons you.
1904. Marie Corelli, God’s Good Man, xxv. You can summons me … if you feel so inclined.
Hence Summonsable a., rendering one liable to a summons, actionable; Summonser, one who summonses; Summonsing vbl. sb.
1877. R. W. Thom, Jock o’ Knowe, 31 (E.D.D.). The sommonser’s ca’ Wad sound through the grand rooms o’ Corby Ha’.
1891. Sat. Rev., 25 July, 100/1. The fervent exhortations in the streets to apply summonsable language to him.
1893. Stevenson, Catriona, ix. The purpose … being that … the summonsing be something other than a form.
