Where does “subpoena” come from?
Subpoena comes from Middle English sub pena, from Latin sub meaning "under" and poena meaning "penalty," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots upo and kʷey-.
subpoena (English): A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court...
Definitions
- A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court...
Ancestry of “subpoena”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | sub pena | A subpoena or summons, especially for the Court... |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | poena | — |
Words derived from “subpoena”