society > law > administration of justice > process, writ, warrant, or order > [noun] > summons > subpoena for defendant (2)
A writ requiring the attendance of a defendant at court in order to answer a charge alleged against him or her, subject to penalty for…
a writ requiring the attendance of a person at a stated place in order to testify, present evidence, or (formerly) to answer a charge; a subpoena.