Definitions from Wiktionary ( )

▸ noun:  (law) A writ (“written order”) requiring someone to appear in court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding, as a witness to give testimony (a subpoena ad testificandum) or to produce evidence (subpoena duces tecum), in default of which the person may be punished.
▸ noun:  (historical, law) A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court to answer a plaintiff's claim (a subpoena ad respondendum); in England and Wales, and Ireland, this writ was formerly issued by the Court of Chancery at the plaintiff's request to commence a suit, but the procedure was abolished in 1852.
▸ noun:  (figurative) A motive or thing which can compel or demand something, or summon someone.
▸ verb:  (law) To summon (someone) with a subpoena (noun sense 1) to appear in court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding, as a witness to give testimony or to produce evidence; to serve a subpoena on (someone).
▸ verb:  (law) To require (a document or other evidence) to be produced before a court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding.
▸ verb:  (figurative) To compel or summon (someone or something); to demand.

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