Subpoena Definition
sə-pēnə
subpoenaed, subpoenaing, subpoenas
noun
subpoenas
A written legal order directing a person to appear in court to give testimony, show specified records, etc.
Webster's New World
verb
subpoenaed, subpoenaing, subpoenas
To summon with such an order.
Webster's New World
To order that (specified records, documents, etc.) be brought to a court.
Webster's New World
Under penalty. A writ issued by a court commanding a person to appear, with penalties that attach for failure to comply.
The act of sending a subpoena to a witness or other person to secure his attendance and testimony at trial or other proceeding (such as deposition); generally, subpoenas are obtained and sent out by the lawyers, rather than directly by the court.
Webster's New World Law
To summon with a subpoena.
Wiktionary
Origin of Subpoena
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Middle English suppena from Medieval Latin sub poenā under a penalty (from the opening words of the writ) Latin sub under sub– Latin poenā ablative of poena penalty kwei-1 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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First attested with this spelling in 1623 CE, from Latin: sub (“under") and poena (“penalty").
From Wiktionary
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