What does summoner mean?
A summoner is someone who calls another person, spirit, or entity into presence. In modern usage, the word most often evokes fantasy, folklore, and supernatural fiction: a summoner may perform a ritual, speak an incantation, or use a special object to call a spirit or other being. This sense can carry an air of mystery and power, but it is also used neutrally to name a character whose function is to summon allies or commanding creatures. In older and legal contexts, a summoner could be an official responsible for issuing or delivering a formal summons. The broader meaning remains valid: any person who calls for another to attend or appear may be described as a summoner. Though less common than the broader verb summon, the noun is especially memorable because it gives a vivid label to someone believed to command forces or beings from beyond the ordinary world.
nounA person who summons or calls up another person, spirit, or entity. The word is especially common in fantasy and folklore for a person who calls spirits from the spirit world.
- A person who calls up or commands spirits, especially in folklore, fantasy, and supernatural fiction.
- A person who summons another person to appear, especially an official who issues or serves a formal summons.
- One who invokes, calls for, or brings something into being.
"When the summoner spoke the binding, the ancient spirit answered from beyond the veil."
"The summoner traced a circle in the salt and called the spirit by its forgotten name."
"The summoner delivered the legal notice before the witnesses arrived."
The standard plural of the noun summoner.
"Several summoners gathered around the circle as midnight approached."
A summoner does more than call: in legend and fantasy, the summoner demands that spirits answer.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does summoner come from?
Summoner was formed in Middle English from summon and the agent suffix -er, meaning a person who summons or calls. Summon came through Old French somondre from Latin submondere, formed from sub- and mundum, meaning command or decree. The noun's supernatural sense developed as summon came to be applied to calling up spirits as well as calling people to appear.
Related word forms
How summoner is actually used
The word is neutral and relatively uncommon when referring to someone who issues a formal summons, a sense often associated with legal or historical contexts. Its supernatural sense is now especially familiar from fantasy literature, games, and folklore, where it may describe either a practitioner or a fictional character whose role is to summon spirits or other beings.