subpoena

• subpena
• subpœna

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.

• IPA^(key): /səˈpiːnə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːnə

subpoena (plural subpoenas or subpoenae or subpoenæ)

1. (law, historical) A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court to answer a plaintiff's claim.
   • 1874, W.S. Gilbert, Trial by Jury

     Summoned by a stern subpoena Edwin sued by Angelina Shortly will appear.

2. (law) A writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony.

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.

• witness summons (British)

• subpoena duces tecum
• subpoena ad testificandum
• subpoena ad respondendum

subpoena (third-person singular simple present subpoenas, present participle subpoenaing, simple past and past participle subpoenaed)

1. (transitive) To summon with a subpoena.
   • 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 10,

     Why not subpoena as well the clerical proficients?

• compel testimony
• contempt of court

• base upon

• subpœna

From English subpoena.

• IPA^(key): /syb.pe.na/

subpoena m (plural subpoenas)

1. (Canadian and US law) subpoena