Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
a writ issued by a court at the request of one of the parties to a suit;
it requires a witness to bring to court or to a deposition any relevant documents under the witness's control;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Subpoena \Sub*poe"na\, n. [NL., fr. L. sub under + poena
punishment. See Pain.] (Law)
A writ commanding the attendance in court, as a witness, of
the person on whom it is served, under a penalty; the process
by which a defendant in equity is commanded to appear and
answer the plaintiff's bill. [Written also subpena.]
[1913 Webster]
Subpoena ad testificandum. [NL.] A writ used to procure the
attendance of a witness for the purpose of testifying.
Subpoena duces tecum. [NL.] A writ which requires a witness
to attend and bring certain documents.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
subpoena duces tecum
n 1: a writ issued by a court at the request of one of the
parties to a suit; it requires a witness to bring to court
or to a deposition any relevant documents under the
witness's control
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):
SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM, practice. A writ or process of the same kind as the
subpoena ad testificandum, including a clause requiring the witness to bring
with him and produce to the court, books, papers, &c., in his hands, tending
to elucidate the matter in issue. 3 Bl. Com. 382.