Law. Also 7 subpœne. [f. prec.] trans. To serve with a writ of subpœna; to summon as a witness in a court of justice. (Chiefly in pa. pple.)
1640. in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1692), III. I. 81. One Walker, and Cadwallader Powel,… subpœned to be made Defendants in a Third Information put into the High Court of Star-Chamber.
1693. Humours Town, 6. My Cousin, here, and I, being subpœna’d up for Witnesses.
1710. P. Blair, Misc. Observ. (1718), 66. The Physicians and Surgeons (being subpena’d as Evidences against him).
1755. Gentl. Mag., XXV. 329. The witnesses subpæna’d by the crown amounted to above 100.
1858. Lytton, What will He do? VII. vii. He would not even subpœna any of his old friends as to his general character.
1875. Miss Braddon, Strange World, xi. Elgood and his daughter were both subpænaed for the adjourned inquest.
1884. R. Wheatley, in Harper’s Mag., June, 57/1. Other merchants may be subpœnaed to act as mercantile experts at the examination.
transf. 1755. Chesterf., in World, No. 151, ¶ 1. I was lately subpœnaed, by a card, to a general assembly.
