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summon
/ˈsʌmən/
to call someone formally or officially
The judge summoned the witness to testify.
The judge formally called the witness to appear in court.
formal
to call someone formally or officially to appear or come
The police summoned the suspect for questioning.
The police formally called the suspect to come in for questioning.
Often used in legal or official contexts.
literary
to call forth or evoke something, often abstract
The speech summoned feelings of patriotism.
The speech evoked or called forth feelings of patriotism.
Used metaphorically to describe evoking emotions or ideas.
Collocations
summon someoneto formally call someonesummon courageto gather or evoke courage
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Use
'Summon' is more formal than 'call.' Use it in legal, official, or literary contexts.
Gold Rule
Authority Implication
'Summon' implies that the caller has authority over the person being summoned.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'sumonen,' from Old French 'somoner,' from Latin 'summonere' (to call together), from 'sub-' (under) + 'monere' (to warn).
Usage Notes
In formal contexts, 'summon' implies authority or officiality. In literary contexts, it can be used metaphorically to describe evoking emotions or ideas.
Word Breakdown
sum-
under
prefix-mon-
warn
root-ere
to make or do
suffixEnglish Dictionary