subpoena

== English == === Alternative forms === subpena (dated) subpœna (archaic) === Etymology === The noun sense is derived from Late Middle English sub pena (“writ requiring defendant to appear in the Court of Chancery to answer a plaintiff’s claim or to be punished; writ requiring witness to appear in court”), from Latin sub (“under”) +‎ poena (“penalty, punishment”), from the opening words of the writ. The verb sense is derived from the noun one. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /sə(b)ˈpiː.nə/ (General American) IPA(key): /səˈpi.nə/ Rhymes: -iːnə Hyphenation: sub‧poe‧na === Noun === subpoena (plural subpoenas or subpoenae or subpoenæ) (law) A writ (“written order”) requiring someone to appear in court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding, as a witness to give testimony (a subpoena ad testificandum) or to produce evidence (subpoena duces tecum), in default of which the person may be punished. Synonyms: (UK) witness summons, (Singapore) order to attend court; see also Thesaurus:summons Hyponyms: subpoena duces tecum, subpoena ad testificandum (historical, law) A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court to answer a plaintiff's claim (a subpoena ad respondendum); in England and Wales, and Ireland, this writ was formerly issued by the Court of Chancery at the plaintiff's request to commence a suit, but the procedure was abolished in 1852. (figurative) A motive or thing which can compel or demand something, or summon someone. ==== Usage notes ==== The most common plural form is subpoenas. Subpoenae is a hypercorrection as the word is not derived from a Latin noun *subpœna but from the Latin phrase sub pœna, and therefore has no Latinate plural. noun sense 1 (“writ requiring someone to appear in court or at some other legal proceeding to give testimony or to produce evidence”) is no longer used in the United Kingdom and Singapore, having been replaced by witness summons and order to attend court in order to make legal matters more understandable to laypersons. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === subpoena (third-person singular simple present subpoenas, present participle subpoenaing, simple past and past participle subpoenaed) (transitive) (law) To summon (someone) with a subpoena (noun sense 1) to appear in court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding, as a witness to give testimony or to produce evidence; to serve a subpoena on (someone). Hyponym: compel testimony (law) To require (a document or other evidence) to be produced before a court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding. (figurative) To compel or summon (someone or something); to demand. ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== contempt of court === References === === Further reading === subpoena on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === base upon == French == === Alternative forms === subpœna === Etymology === Borrowed from English subpoena. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /syb.pe.na/ === Noun === subpoena m (plural subpoenas) (Canada and US law) subpoena