summonsing

a : a document in a civil suit that is issued by an authorized judicial officer (as a clerk of court) and delivered to a plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney for service on the defendant and that notifies the defendant that he or she must appear and defend (as by filing an answer) within a specified time or a default judgment will be rendered for the plaintiff

b : a document that summons a defendant to appear before a court to answer a minor criminal charge and that is issued in lieu of a warrant for arrest by an authorized judicial officer (as a magistrate) upon request of a prosecuting attorney

c : a notification to appear for jury service

d : a notification to appear as a witness — see also john doe summons, service — compare subpoena

: summon; especially : to bring into court by a summons hereby summonsed to serve as a trial juror : to bring into court by a summons hereby summonsed to serve as a trial juror