Word Direct Answers

subpoena

subpoena is defined in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913) with 2 senses. The full text of each entry is reproduced verbatim below.

Definitions

  1. 1.A writ commanding the attendance in court, as a witness, of the person on whom it is served, under a penalty; the process by which a defendant in equity is commanded to appear and answer the plaintiff's bill. [Written also subpena.] Subpoena ad testificandum (. Etym: [NL.] A writ used to procure the attendance of a witness for the purpose of testifying. -- Subpoena duces tecum (. Etym: [NL.] A writ which requires a witness to attend and bring certain documents.
  2. 2.To serve with a writ of subpoena; to command attendance in court by a legal writ, under a penalty in case of disobedience.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is subpoena.

Sources