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Petition vs Summons - What's the difference?

petition | summons |

In lang=en terms the difference between petition and summons

is that petition is a formal written request for judicial action while summons is a notice summoning someone to appear in court, as a defendant, juror or witness.

As nouns the difference between petition and summons

is that petition is a formal, written request made to an official person or organized body, often containing many signatures while summons is a call to do something, especially to come.

As verbs the difference between petition and summons

is that petition is to make a request, commonly in written form while summons is to serve someone with a summons.

petition

Noun

(en noun)
  • A formal, written request made to an official person or organized body, often containing many signatures.
  • A compilation of signatures built in order to exert moral authority in support of a specific cause.
  • (legal) A formal written request for judicial action.
  • A prayer; a supplication; an entreaty.
  • * Bible, 1. Macc. vii. 37
  • A house of prayer and petition for thy people.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make a request, commonly in written form.
  • summons

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) sumunce (modern French semonce), from popular (etyl) .

    Noun

    (es)
  • A call to do something, especially to come.
  • * Hallam
  • special summonses by the king
  • * Bishop Fell
  • this summons unfit either to dispute or disobey
  • * Sir J. Hayward
  • He sent to summon the seditious, and to offer pardon; but neither summons nor pardon was regarded.
  • (legal) A notice summoning someone to appear in court, as a defendant, juror or witness.
  • (military) A demand for surrender.
  • Verb

    (es)
  • To serve someone with a summons.
  • * 2007', It proposes that those held in the prototype Selfridges cells be kept for a maximum of four hours to have their identity confirmed and be charged, '''summonsed or given a fine. — ''The Guardian , 15 Mar 2007, p. 1
  • See also

    * ("summons" on Wikipedia) *

    Etymology 2

    Inflected forms.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (summon)