Etymology Map
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Summon

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to order someone to be present

Where does the word "summon" come from? It comes from Latin submonere, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
submonere
Latin · ancient
"to remind privately"
'sub-', secretly, plus 'monere', to warn, the root of 'monitor'
2
Stage 2 of 3
somondre
Old French · medieval
"to summon"
a 'summoner' served court orders; Chaucer's Summoner is a church court official
3
Stage 3 of 3
summon
English · 1200s
"to call to court"
'summons' as a legal writ dates from the 1200s
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Read the full story

Summon’s story begins in Latin: submonere meant “to remind privately.” 'sub-', secretly, plus 'monere', to warn, the root of 'monitor'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as somondre. A 'summoner' served court orders; Chaucer's Summoner is a church court official. It reached English by 1200s as summon. 'summons' as a legal writ dates from the 1200s. Today, summon means to order someone to be present.