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

  1. A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court...

Ancestry of “subpoena”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsub penaA subpoena or summons, especially for the Court...
2Medieval Latinpoena—

Words derived from “subpoena”

Every word from Medieval Latin poena →Every word from Middle English sub pena →