Latin today · Law & politics
Subpoena
“under penalty”
Latin word in modern English
Meaning
What does “Subpoena” mean?
A subpoena obliges a person to come to court or to produce evidence. Ignoring it can be punished as contempt of court.
In real life
Where you meet it
In courtrooms, legal dramas, parliamentary investigations and news reports about trials.
Example
“Subpoena” in a sentence
The former manager was subpoenaed to testify about the missing funds.
Origin
Where the word comes from
Sub poena means "under penalty". These were the first words of the medieval English writ ordering a witness to appear – under penalty of a fine if they did not.
Pronunciation
How to say it
Usual Englishsuh-PEE-nuh
Classical Latinsub POE-na
Good to know
Common mistakes
- It is spelled with "oe": subpoena, not "subpena" (though "subpena" is an old American variant).
- Used as a verb: to subpoena, subpoenaed.
- Latin
- Subpoena
- Literally
- under penalty
- Used in
- Law & politics
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