I. sub‧poe‧na¹ /səˈpiːnə, səb-/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: sub poena 'under punishment' (the first words of the written order)]
law a written order to come to a court of law and be a witness

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II. subpoena² verb (past tense and past participle subpoenaed) [transitive]
law to order someone to come to a court of law and be a witness:
James was subpoenaed as a witness.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

order to tell someone that they must do something, using your official power or authority:
A policeman ordered him to stop.
He ordered his men to put down their weapons.
‘Don’t move,’ he ordered.
tell to say to someone that they must do something:
Stop telling me what to do!
The headmaster told me to wait outside his office.
give orders/instructions to tell someone exactly what they must do:
The police chief gave orders to shoot.
The doctor gave instructions that she should rest as much as possible.
command used about a high-ranking person such as a general, captain, or king ordering someone to do something:
The general commanded the troops to fall back.
They believe that the Lord has commanded them to do this.
instruct formal to tell someone to do something, especially when you tell them exactly how it should be done:
The architect was instructed to keep the plans simple.
She took three tablets every day, as instructed by her doctor.
direct to give someone an official or legal order to do something:
The judge directed the jury to find her not guilty.
subpoena /səˈpiːnə, səb-/ to officially order someone to appear in a court of law in order to answer questions:
Another three of the President’s advisors were subpoenaed.

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