Definition of summon

The origin of the word "summon" can be traced back to the Old English word "sumen", which meant "to call together" or "to gather". The Middle English variant, "sommen", was used primarily in a legal context to refer to the act of legally summoning someone to appear in court. The word's meaning expanded over time, and today it is commonly used to denote any request or instruction to appear at a specific place or time. The verb "to summon" is often followed by a preposition, such as "to" or "for", depending on the context in which it is used. Its use in modern English reflects its historical roots in the Old English language, where it was employed in honorific and official communications to denote a sense of authority and gravity.