subpoena
See also: subpœna
English
Etymology
First attested with this spelling in 1623 CE, from earlier subpena, from Middle English sub pena, from Medieval Latin: sub (“under”) and poena (“penalty”), the beginning of the original subpoena used in the Court of Chancery.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /səˈpiːnə/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -iːnə
Noun
subpoena (plural subpoenas or subpoenae or subpoenæ)
Usage notes
The most common plural form is subpoenas. Subpoenae is a hypercorrection as the word is not derived from a Latin noun *subpœna, *subpœnæ, but from the Latin phrase sub pœna, and therefore has no Latin plural.
Synonyms
- witness summons (British)
Derived terms
- subpoena duces tecum
- subpoena ad testificandum
- subpoena ad respondendum
Translations
writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony
|
|
Verb
subpoena (third-person singular simple present subpoenas, present participle subpoenaing, simple past and past participle subpoenaed)
- (transitive) To summon with a subpoena.
- 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 10,
- Why not subpoena as well the clerical proficients?
- 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 10,
Translations
to summon with a subpoena
See also
French
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /syb.pe.na/
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.