summon
Definitions
To officially order someone to come or appear, especially in court.
传唤；召唤；召集
To gather or muster a feeling or quality from within oneself, such as courage.
鼓起（勇气）；振作（精神）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedsub- (here 'secretly, up') assimilated to sum- + monēre (warn, call to mind) = 'to call (someone) by notice.' Outwardly it means to formally call a person to appear; inwardly it means to call up a quality from within — summon the courage to act.
Root mon still carries 41 more wordsWhy It Means This
Summon keeps monēre's old sense of 'calling to mind' and turns it into 'calling forth.' When a court summons you, it formally calls you to appear. But the same word turns inward: to summon courage, strength, or energy is to call those qualities up out of yourself, as if mustering reluctant troops. Both uses share the idea of bringing something forth on demand.
Common Collocations
- 1.summon courage鼓起勇气
- 2.summon help呼叫援助
- 3.summon to court传唤出庭
- 4.summon a meeting召开会议
- 5.summon the strength振作力气
Example Sentences
- 1.
The court summoned him to appear as a witness.
- 2.
She summoned all her courage and walked onto the stage.
- 3.
The manager summoned the team for an urgent meeting.
- 4.
He could barely summon the energy to get out of bed.