subpoena Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding; disobedience may be punishable as a contempt of court
    subpoena ad testificandum.
  2. verb serve or summon with a subpoena
    • The witness and her records were subpoenaed

WordNet

Sub*poe"na noun
Etymology
NL., fr. L. sub under + poena punishment. See Pain.
Definitions
  1. (Law) 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.
Sub*poe"na transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Subpoenaed ; present participle & verbal noun Subpoenaing
Definitions
  1. (Law) To serve with a writ of subpoena; to command attendance in court by a legal writ, under a penalty in case of disobedience.

Webster 1913