ˈbɪdɪŋ ˈpɹəʊsɛs ˈsʌmən call in an official matter, such as to attend court a writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendant an order to appear in person at a given place and time a request to be present they came at his bidding