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pro·cess /'prä-ˌses, 'prō-/ n1: a continuous operation, art, or method esp. in manufacturewhoever invents or discovers any new and useful process...may obtain a patent therefor — U.S. Codeb: a means (as a summons) used to compel a defendant to appear in court; broadly: a means by which a court acquires or exercises jurisdiction over a person or property see also mesne process compare notice, service◇ In civil procedure, service of a summons on a defendant is considered constitutionally sufficient process, although usu. a copy of the complaint must also be provided according to the local rule of procedure.
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.
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I
(course) noun
action, conduct, continued movement, continuing development, handling, line of action, manner, means, method, methodology, mode of operation, operation, performance, plan, policy, procedure, progressive course, ratio, regular proceeding, ritual, routine, scheme, series of measures, strategy, system, tactics, transaction, treatment, way, ways and means
associated concepts: due process, judicial process
II
(summons) noun
authoritative citation to appear before a court, authoritative command, behest, bidding, citation, command, direction, instruction to appear, legal call, lis, official call, official notice, requirement to appear, signal by which one is summoned, subpoena, writ
associated concepts: abuse of process, compulsory process, defective process, irregular process, return of process, service of process
III
index
avenue (means of attainment), conduit (channel), course, expedient, instrumentality, manufacture, method, mode, modus operandi, operation, practice (procedure), procedure, proceeding, search warrant, step, subpoena, system, transaction, treatment, warrant (judicial writ)
Burton's Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006
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n.(1) A series of actions taken to achieve some result; a normal method or procedure.(2) A summons, writ, warrant, or other document ordering someone to appear in court; a court’s exercise of jurisdiction over someone.
The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008.
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1) The legal means by which a person is given notice of a legal proceeding or required to appear in court. (See also: service of process)2) Proceedings in a legal matter.Category: Criminal LawCategory: Representing Yourself in CourtCategory: Small Claims Court & LawsuitsCategory: Small Claims CourtCategory: Working With a Lawyer
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.
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n.1 A summons in writing to compel the appearance or response of a person before a court; the proceedings in a civil or a criminal case; the procedure by which a disobedient or recalcitrant defendant is made to plead.2 Patent law, the method used to produce a thing or result.
Webster's New World Law Dictionary. Susan Ellis Wild. 2000.
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A series of actions, motions, or occurrences; a method, mode, or operation, whereby a result or effect is produced; normal or actual course of procedure; regular proceeding, as, the process of vegetation or decomposition; a chemical process; processes of nature.In patent law, an art or method by which any particular result is produced. A definite combination of new or old elements, ingredients, operations, ways, or means to produce a new, improved, or old result, and any substantial change therein by omission, to the same or better result, or by modification or substitution, with different function, to the same or better result, is a new and patentable process.In civil and criminal proceedings, any means used by a court to acquire or exercise its jurisdiction over a person or over specific property. A summons or summons and complaint; sometimes, a writ.
Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.
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A series of actions, motions, or occurrences; a method, mode, or operation, whereby a result or effect is produced; normal or actual course of procedure; regular proceeding, as, the process of vegetation or decomposition; a chemical process; processes of nature.In patent law, an art or method by which any particular result is produced. A definite combination of new or old elements, ingredients, operations, ways, or means to produce a new, improved, or old result, and any substantial change therein by omission, to the same or better result, or by modification or substitution, with different function, to the same or better result, is a new and patentable process.In civil and criminal proceedings, any means used by a court to acquire or exercise its jurisdiction over a person or over specific property. A summons or summons and complaint; sometimes, a writ.
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
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n.in law, the legal means by which a person is required to appear in court or a defendant is given notice of a legal action against him/her/it. When a complaint in a lawsuit is filed, it must be served on each defendant, together with a summons issued by the clerk of the court stating the amount of time (say, 30 days) in which the defendant has to file an answer or other legal pleading with the clerk of the court, and sent to the plaintiff. New York has an unusual system in which a summons may be served without a complaint. A subpena is similar to a summons but is a notice to a witness to appear at a deposition (testimony taken outside court), or at a trial. A subpena duces tecum is an order to deliver documents or other evidence either into court or to the attorney for a party to a lawsuit or criminal prosecution. An order to show cause is a court order to appear in court and give a reason why the court should not issue an order (such as paying temporary child support). The summons, complaint, subpena, subpena duces tecum and order to show cause must all be "served" on the defendant or person required to appear or produce, and this is called "service of process." Service of process is usually made by an officer of the court such as a deputy sheriff or marshal, or a professional process server, but can be performed by others in most jurisdictions.
Law dictionary. EdwART. 2013.
