Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To order or request someone to come or be present: To formally or authoritatively call someone to appear at a specific place.
   • To call forth or gather (a quality, feeling, or resource): To make an effort to bring something intangible, like courage or energy, into use.
   • To order someone to appear in a court of law: To issue a legal command for a person to attend court.

Usage and Examples

• To order or request someone's presence:
  • The manager summoned her to his office for a meeting.
  • The king summoned his advisors to the council chamber.
• To call forth an internal quality or resource:
  • He had to summon all his strength to lift the heavy box.
  • She summoned her courage and walked onto the stage.
• To issue a legal order:
  • The judge summoned the witness to testify.
  • He was summoned to appear before the committee.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "to summon up": This phrasal verb is specifically used for gathering intangible things like emotions, memories, or energy.
  • She tried to summon up the memory of her childhood home.
  • You need to summon up the energy to finish this task.
• The act of summoning often implies authority, urgency, or formality. It is not a casual invitation.

Variants and Related Words

• Summons (noun): An official order to appear in court.
  • He received a summons for jury duty.
• Summoner (noun): A person who summons, though this is a less common term.

Synonyms

• Call: To ask someone to come (less formal).
• Convene: To bring people together for a meeting.
• Muster: To assemble or gather, especially troops or courage.
• Evoke: To bring a feeling, memory, or image to mind (closer to "summon up").

Phrasal Verbs

• Summon up: To gather or call forth something non-physical, such as courage, strength, or a memory.
  • He couldn't summon up any enthusiasm for the project.

Related Idioms

• Summon (someone/something) to one's aid: To call for help or support.
  • In his desperation, he summoned all his willpower to his aid.
• Answer the summons: To obey an official order to appear.
  • The defendant answered the summons and appeared in court.

Verb

1. make ready for action or use
   • marshal resources
2. gather or bring together
   • muster the courage to do something
   • she rallied her intellect
   • Summon all your courage
3. ask to come
   • summon a lawyer
4. call in an official matter, such as to attend court