dictionary · eo1.org

subpoena

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: subpena, sub poena, subpoenas, subpotent, subpoenal, subpeona, subpoenad

Antonyms: subpena, sub poena, subpoenas, subpotent, subpoenal, subpeona, subpoenad

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

  1. {{senseid|en|writ1}} {{lb|en|law}} A {{l|en|writ|t=[[written#Adjective|written]] [[order#Noun|order]]}} [[require|requiring]] someone to [[appear]] in [[court#Noun|court]], or at a [[deposition]] or some other [[legal#Adjective|legal]] [[proceeding#Noun|proceeding]], as a [[witness#Noun|witness]] to [[give#Verb|give]] [[testimony]] (a [[subpoena ad testificandum]]) or to [[produce#Verb|produce]] [[evidence#Noun|evidence]] ([[subpoena duces tecum]]), in [[default#Noun|default]] of which the [[person#Noun|person]] may be [[punish]]ed.
  2. {{senseid|en|writ2}}{{lb|en|historical|law}} A writ requiring a [[defendant#Noun|defendant]] to appear in court to [[answer#Verb|answer]] a [[plaintiff]]'s [[claim#Noun|claim]] (a [[subpoena ad respondendum]]); in [[England and Wales]], and [[Ireland]], this writ was [[formerly]] [[issue#Verb|issued]] by the {{w|Court of Chancery}} at the plaintiff's [[request#Noun|request]] to [[commence]] a [[suit#Noun|suit]], but the [[procedure]] was [[abolish]]ed in 1852.
  3. {{senseid|en|motive}} {{lb|en|figurative}} A motive or thing which can [[compel]] or [[demand#Verb|demand]] something, or [[summon#Verb|summon]] someone.

Verb

  1. {{lb|en|law}} To [[summon#Verb|summon]] (someone) with a [[subpoena#Noun|subpoena]] ''({{senseno|en|writ1}})'' to [[appear]] in [[court#Noun|court]], or at a [[deposition]] or some other [[legal#Adjective|legal]] [[proceeding#Noun|proceeding]], as a [[witness#Noun|witness]] to [[give#Verb|give]] [[testimony]] or to [[produce#Verb|produce]] [[evidence#Noun|evidence]]; to [[serve#Verb|serve]] a subpoena on (someone).
  2. {{lb|en|law}} To [[require]] (a [[document#Noun|document]] or other evidence) to be produced before a court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding.
  3. {{lb|en|figurative}} To [[compel]] or summon (someone or something); to [[demand#Verb|demand]].

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.