Meaning

noun a particular course of action intended to achieve a result

noun (psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents

noun 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

originFrom Middle English proces, from Old French procés (“journey”), from Latin prōcessus (“course, progression”), nominalization of prōcēdō (“proceed, advance”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0