Definition of the word writ

2

a

: a formal written document

specifically

: a legal instrument in epistolary form issued under seal in the name of the English monarch

b

: an order or mandatory process in writing issued in the name of the sovereign or of a court or judicial officer commanding the person to whom it is directed to perform or refrain from performing an act specified therein

c

: the power and authority of the issuer of such a written order

usually used with run

outside the United States where … our writ does not runDean Acheson

Example Sentences



The judge issued a writ of habeas corpus.



He was served with a writ.

Recent Examples on the Web

There is one outstanding contract question that perhaps test the limits of Brown’s influence on both Crane and the organization writ large.


Michael Shapiro, Chron, 31 Mar. 2023





No doubt, Supreme Court rulings have real consequences for the parties involved and for society writ large.


WSJ, 28 Feb. 2023





Preserve Calavera filed the petition for a writ of mandate Nov. 18.


Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2022





Another is that a company that, some believe, contributes to the scarcity of affordable housing has found a way to collect donations that — in addition to benefiting aid organizations — contribute to the growth of its platform, and reputation, writ large.


Molly Osberg, Curbed, 24 Mar. 2022





The news moves fast:Keep up with the latest education news by subscribing to Study Hall, our weekly newsletter James Bopp Jr., the attorney representing the students, filed the emergency application for writ of injunction with the U.S. Supreme Court Friday.


Arika Herron, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Aug. 2021





Kimmel’s jokes were obvious, easy and short – his regular late-night monologue writ large.


Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2023





The key document was the original writ, in which a man named Thomas Staundon brought an action against Chaumpaigne and Chaucer—as co-defendants.


Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2023





On Wednesday, a Dallas district court clerk signed off on a writ from Glast, Phillips and Murray to garnish $15,000 from Namdar’s campaign coffers.


Dallas News, 16 Feb. 2022



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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘writ.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old English wrītan to write

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of writ was
before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near writ

Cite this Entry

“Writ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/writ. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

Other forms: writs

If you are ever served with a writ, then you better do what it says. A writ is a written document issuing a legal order.

The word writ has been around since before the twelfth century and was first used to describe a written document needed to have a case heard at the royal courts of England during the Middle Ages. Nowadays, the king is most likely no longer involved, but this word still refers to a legal document issued by a court of law. A writ contains a written order instructing someone to do something or to stop doing something. If you ever need to give out a writ, remember that the verb to serve is typically used to describe the issuing of a writ — as in “Tony was served with a writ on Monday.”

Definitions of writ

  1. noun

    (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer

    synonyms:

    judicial writ

    see moresee less

    types:

    show 34 types…
    hide 34 types…
    court order

    a writ issued by a court of law requiring a person to do something or to refrain from doing something

    warrant

    a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts

    assize

    an ancient writ issued by a court of assize to the sheriff for the recovery of property

    certiorari, writ of certiorari

    a common law writ issued by a superior court to one of inferior jurisdiction demanding the record of a particular case

    habeas corpus, writ of habeas corpus

    a writ ordering a prisoner to be brought before a judge

    venire facias

    a judicial writ ordering a sheriff to summon people for jury duty

    mandamus, writ of mandamus

    an extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official’s discretion; used only when all other judicial remedies fail

    attachment

    a writ authorizing the seizure of property that may be needed for the payment of a judgment in a judicial proceeding

    fieri facias

    a writ ordering a levy on the belongings of a debtor to satisfy the debt

    scire facias

    a judicial writ based on some record and requiring the party against whom it is brought to show cause why the record should not be enforced or annulled

    sequestration

    a writ that authorizes the seizure of property

    writ of detinue

    a writ ordering the release of goods that have been unlawfully detained

    writ of election

    a writ ordering the holding of an election

    writ of error

    a judicial writ from an appellate court ordering the court of record to produce the records of trial

    writ of prohibition

    a judicial writ from a higher court ordering a lower court not to exercise jurisdiction in a particular case

    writ of right

    a writ ordering that land be restored to its rightful owner

    process, summons

    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

    subpoena, subpoena ad testificandum

    a writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding; disobedience may be punishable as a contempt of court

    subpoena duces tecum

    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

    divestiture

    an order to an offending party to rid itself of property; it has the purpose of depriving the defendant of the gains of wrongful behavior

    search warrant

    a warrant authorizing law enforcement officials to search for objects or people involved in the commission of a crime and to produce them in court; the warrant describes the locations where the officials may search

    arrest warrant, bench warrant

    a warrant authorizing law enforcement officials to apprehend an offender and bring that person to court

    death warrant

    a warrant to execute the death sentence

    cachet, lettre de cachet

    a warrant formerly issued by a French king who could warrant imprisonment or death in a signed letter under his seal

    reprieve

    a warrant granting postponement (usually to postpone the execution of the death sentence)

    commutation

    a warrant substituting a lesser punishment for a greater one

    amnesty, pardon

    a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense

    execution, writ of execution

    a routine court order that attempts to enforce the judgment that has been granted to a plaintiff by authorizing a sheriff to carry it out

    gag order

    a court order restricting information or comment by the participants involved in a lawsuit

    garnishment

    a court order to an employer to withhold all or part of an employee’s wages and to send the money to the court or to the person who won a lawsuit against the employee

    interdict, interdiction

    a court order prohibiting a party from doing a certain activity

    citation

    a summons that commands the appearance of a party at a proceeding

    monition, process of monition

    a summons issued after the filing of a libel or claim directing all parties concerned to show cause why the judgment asked for should not be granted

    ticket

    a summons issued to an offender (especially to someone who violates a traffic regulation)

    type of:

    instrument, legal document, legal instrument, official document

    (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘writ’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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Meaning Writ

What does Writ mean? Here you find 66 meanings of the word Writ. You can also add a definition of Writ yourself

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n. a written order of a judge requiring specific action by the pe…

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Writ

A written court order directing a person to take, or refrain from taking, a certain act.

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Writ

n. ~ A written order issued by a court in the name of a state or other competent authority, ordering the addressee to do or refrain from doing some specified act.

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Writ

A written order issued by a court of law which orders someone to do, or not do, something.

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Writ

In electoral terms a writ is a document commanding an electoral officer to hold an election and contains dates for the close of rolls, the close of nominations, the polling day and the return of the writ. The issue of a writ triggers the electoral process.

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Writ

Document by use of which a party may "appeal" a nonfinal order issued by a trial court.

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Writ

Old English writ «something written, piece of writing,» from the past participle stem of writan (see write). Used of legal documents or instruments since at least 1121.

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Writ

an order issuing from a court of justice and requiring the performance of a specified act, or giving authority and commission to have it done

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Writ

formal order, from a government or other authority.

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Writ

A written order from a judge requiring specific action by the person or entity to whom the writ is directed. Writs can be directed to other, lower court judges (writ of mandamus); to prison officials [..]

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Writ

(law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body i [..]

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Writ

 gospel, truth.

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Writ

A court’s written order, in the name of a state or other competent legal authority, commanding the addressee to do or refrain from doing a specified act. There are numerous types of writs, including [..]

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Writ

In electoral terms a writ is a document commanding an electoral officer to hold an election and contains dates for the close of rolls, the close of nominations, the polling day and the return of the writ. The issue of a writ triggers the electoral process.

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Writ

Historically, a command written in epistolary form, addressed to one or more officials under the seal of an English king, indicating that a specific action is to be performed or is prohibited. In a mo [..]

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Writ

A formal written command issued by the government, often by a court. A writ orders a specific act, such as declaring an election.

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Writ

A written direction from the Governor-General to the Chief Electoral Officer to hold a general election, by-election, or referendum. In the case of a general election or by-election, the writ specifies the dates of nomination day, Election Day and the latest day for the return of the writ.

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Writ

[Old English, something written] 1 : a letter that was issued in the name of the English monarch from Anglo-Saxon times to declare his grants, wishes, and commands 2 : an order or mandatory process .. [..]

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Writ

1) Sealed document, transmitting an order from the king or his courts.    (Sayles, George O. The King’s Parliament of England, 146) 2) A royal order to a definite person; a mandate command [..]

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Writ

A writ is a written command in the name of the government. When referring to elections, the writ means the command to hold an election. The date of the writ is the date the election was called.

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Writ

a writ is a written command in the name of the government. When referring to elections, the writ means the command to hold an election. The date of the writ is the date the election was called.

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Writ

Writ is a written, binding order issued by a judge, judicial officer or court.  

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Writ

A writ is a legal order or command. A writ is an official mandate requiring the performance of a specific act. Examples of writs include a writ of possession, writ of execution, writ of garnishment, a [..]

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Writ

Writing and Rhetoric

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Writ

(n) (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer

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Writ

Judicial order directing a person to do something.

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Writ

A judicial order directing a person to do something.

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Writ

An order in writing in the name of the state, issuing from a court, addressed to a sheriff or other officer of the law, or directly to the person whose action the court desires to command, either as t [..]

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Writ

A written order issued by a court and addressed to a sheriff or other person whose action the court desires to command to require performance of a specified act or to give authority to have the act done.

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Writ

An order issued from a court requiring the performance of a specified act, or giving authority and commission to have it done.

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Writ

A written court order demanding that the addressee do or stop doing whatever is specified in the order.

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Writ

A writ is a legal document which commands an electoral official to conduct an election and which specifies the dates for the close of rolls, the close of nominations, the polling and the return of the [..]

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Writ

A judicial order directing a person to do something.

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Writ

A written court order directing a person to take, or refrain from taking, a certain act.

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Writ

A directive issued by the court commanding a named person to perform a specified act.

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Writ

is a formal order directing a person to do or do not do some specified act.

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Writ

A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.

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Writ

A written court order saying that certain action must be taken. Can be a writ of: (1) attachment—an order to attach specified property; (2) certiorari—an order by an appellate court granting or de [..]

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Writ

  A written court order, or a judicial process.

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Writ

A written court order.

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Writ

An extraordinary remedy that can be sought from the Indiana Supreme Court

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Writ

A document in the monarch’s name, under the seal of the Crown, and issued by a court, which commands the person to whom it is addressed to do or refrain from doing some act.

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Writ

A written court order directing a person to take, or refrain from taking, a certain act.

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Writ

A judicial order directing a person to perform a specific act.

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Writ

A writ is a formal legal document lodged with the Supreme Court and the respondent before a civil trial. It informs the respondent of the details of the complaint, the remedy sought and the date and [..]

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Writ

A written order issued by a court and addressed to a sheriff or other person whose action the court desires to command to require performance of a specified act or to give authority to have the act do [..]

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Writ

A document issued by a court which compels a sheriff or other officer to do something.

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Writ

A written court order, or a judicial process.

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Writ

n. a written order of a judge requiring specific action by the person or entity to whom the writ is directed.

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Writ

A court document outlining an order requiring that something be done or giving authority to do a specified act.

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Writ

 An order issued from a court requiring the performance of a specified act, or giving authority and commission to having it done.

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Writ

A judicial order directing a person to do something.

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Writ

A written document and or order requiring the performance of a specified act, or giving authority and commission to have it done.

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Writ

n. «(holy) writ, scripture,» s.v. writ sb. OED. KEY: writ@n

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Writ

n 13 writ 13

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Writ

An order issuing from a court and requiring the performance of a specified act or giving authority and permission to have it done. Example: writ of garnishment.

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Writ

This is an official court document, signed by a judge or bearing an official court seal.

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In these directions means a Writ of Execution emanating from a Court, which when registered in the Register of Causes, Writs and Orders creates a charge on the property of the Execution Debtor where the land is held under Common Law title. Where the land is held under the Real Property Act 1900

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Writ

(legal) A written order, issued by a court, ordering someone to do (or stop doing) something.

authority, power to enforce compliance

*English law

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Writ

An order issued by the court requiring the performance of a specified act or the giving of authority to have it done.

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Writ

A form of written command in the name of sovereign, state, court, etc. issued to an official or other person and directing him or her to act or abstain from acting in some way.

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Writ

a formal legal document issued by a court ordering or prohibiting the performance of some action.

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Writ

legal document issued by a court ordering or prohibiting an action.

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Writ

In common law, a writ (Anglo-Saxon gewrit, Latin breve) is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court. Warran [..]

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Writ

Writ is a legal commentary website on the topic of the law of the United States hosted by FindLaw. The website is no longer adding content, having published its last entry in August 2011. Before then, [..]

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Writ

A writ is a legal document.
Writ may also refer to:

Writ of election, a writ issued by a state ordering that an election be held
Writ (website), an online legal commentary
Ogg Writ, a text-phrase cod [..]

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writ 1

 (rĭt)

n.

1. Law A written order issued by a court, commanding the party to whom it is addressed to perform or cease performing a specified act.

2. Writings: holy writ.


[Middle English, from Old English.]


writ 2

 (rĭt)

v.

A past tense and a past participle of write.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

writ

(rɪt)

n

1. (Law) law (formerly) a document under seal, issued in the name of the Crown or a court, commanding the person to whom it is addressed to do or refrain from doing some specified act. Official name: claim

2. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) archaic a piece or body of writing: Holy Writ.

[Old English; related to Old Norse rit, Gothic writs stroke, Old High German riz (German Riss a tear). See write]


writ

(rɪt)

vb

1. archaic or dialect a past tense and past participle of write

2. writ large plain to see; very obvious

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

writ1

(rɪt)

n.

1.

a. a sealed document, issued in the name of a court, government, sovereign, etc., directing an officer or official to do or refrain from doing some specified act.

b. (in early English law) any formal document in letter form, under seal, and in the sovereign’s name.

2. something written; a writing: sacred writ.

[before 900; Middle English, Old English, c. Old High German riz stroke, Old Norse rit writing, Gothic writs serif; akin to write]

writ2

(rɪt)

v. Archaic.

a pt. and pp. of write.

Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

writ

A written order issued by a court requiring a person to do or not do something.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun 1. writ - (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officerwrit — (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer

court order — a writ issued by a court of law requiring a person to do something or to refrain from doing something

warrant — a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts

assize — an ancient writ issued by a court of assize to the sheriff for the recovery of property

certiorari, writ of certiorari — a common law writ issued by a superior court to one of inferior jurisdiction demanding the record of a particular case

venire facias — a judicial writ ordering a sheriff to summon people for jury duty

mandamus, writ of mandamus — an extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official’s discretion; used only when all other judicial remedies fail

attachment — a writ authorizing the seizure of property that may be needed for the payment of a judgment in a judicial proceeding

fieri facias — a writ ordering a levy on the belongings of a debtor to satisfy the debt

scire facias — a judicial writ based on some record and requiring the party against whom it is brought to show cause why the record should not be enforced or annulled

sequestration — a writ that authorizes the seizure of property

writ of detinue — a writ ordering the release of goods that have been unlawfully detained

writ of error — a judicial writ from an appellate court ordering the court of record to produce the records of trial

writ of prohibition — a judicial writ from a higher court ordering a lower court not to exercise jurisdiction in a particular case

writ of right — a writ ordering that land be restored to its rightful owner

process, summons — 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

subpoena, subpoena ad testificandum — a writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding; disobedience may be punishable as a contempt of court

subpoena duces tecum — 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

law, jurisprudence — the collection of rules imposed by authority; «civilization presupposes respect for the law»; «the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order»

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

writ

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

writ

n

(Jur) → Verfügung f; writ of attachmentHaft- or Verhaftungsbefehl m; writ of executionVollstreckungsbefehl m; to issue a writeine Verfügung herausgeben; to issue a writ against somebodyjdn vorladen (for wegen)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

verb

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they write
he / she / it writes
past simple wrote
past participle written
-ing form writing

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

jump to other results

    letters/numbers

  1. [intransitive, transitive] to make letters or numbers on a surface, especially using a pen or a pencil
    • In some countries children don’t start learning to read and write until they are six.
    • write in something Please write in pen on both sides of the paper.
    • write with something I haven’t got anything to write with.
    • write something Write your name at the top of the paper.
    • The teacher wrote the answers on the board.
    • The ‘b’ had been wrongly written as a ‘d’.

    Extra Examples

    • Children must learn to write neatly.
    • I write with an old fashioned pen.
    • She was busily writing in a notebook.
    • She wrote in Arabic.
    • The words were written in red.
    • Please write clearly in black ink.
    • We teach children to write when they are about six.
    • Write your answer out again on a new sheet of paper.

    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

    • clearly
    • neatly
    • busily

    verb + write

    • learn to
    • teach somebody to
    • be able to

    preposition

    • in
    • on
    • with

    See full entry

  2. book/music/program

  3. [transitive, intransitive] to produce something in written form so that people can read, perform or use it, etc.
    • write something to write a novel/song/computer program
    • to write an article/essay
    • Who was ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ written by?
    • Which opera did Verdi write first?
    • He hopes to write a book about his experiences one day.
    • She had to write a report on the project.
    • The text is very well written.
    • The play was originally written for British television.
    • write about something I wanted to travel and then write about it.
    • write for something He writes for the ‘New Yorker’ (= works as a writer).
    • No decision has been made at the time of writing.
    • write somebody something She wrote him several poems.

    Extra Examples

    • After ‘Tom Sawyer’, Twain went on to write several other classic books.
    • Doris writes with verve and wit.
    • He has been commissioned to write a history of the town.
    • She has written extensively on the subject.
    • He set out to write a short book on taxation.
    • He writes on political issues.
    • Her novel was written under the pseudonym Currer Bell.
    • She was inspired to write the poem by a visit to the cathedral.
    • The role was written specifically for Rita Hayworth.
    • a journalist who writes about problems in the developing world
    • an art critic who writes regularly in the French daily ‘Le Figaro’
    • history written from the perspective of the losers
    • Someone had written a slogan on the wall.
    • Students will be expected to write their own computer programs.
    • She wrote a list on the back of an old envelope.
    • He wrote in his journal.
    • She writes a column for ‘The New York Times’.
    • the ability to write clearly in plain English
    • The film was written and directed by Tim Robbins.
    • He has written a very positive review of the film.
    • She wrote an article for the respected journal Science.
    • The children wrote stories about their pets.
    • She was asked to write a short piece of music for the orchestra.
    • Students were required to write two research papers.
    • He wrote scripts for stage, screen and radio.
    • I have written a few blog posts in the last couple of months.
    • This is his only novel written for children.

    Topics Literature and writinga1, Musica1

    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

    • beautifully
    • eloquently
    • well

    verb + write

    • commission somebody to
    • inspire somebody to
    • prompt somebody to

    preposition

    • about
    • for
    • from

    See full entry

  4. a letter/an email

  5. [intransitive, transitive] to put information, a message of good wishes, etc. in a letter or an email and send it to somebody
    • Bye! Don’t forget to write.
    • I’m writing to enquire about language courses.
    • write to somebody She wrote to him in France.
    • write something to somebody I wrote a letter to the Publicity Department.
    • write somebody something I wrote the Publicity Department a letter.
    • write that… She wrote that they were all fine.
    • write somebody (North American English) Write me while you’re away.
    • write somebody that… (North American English) He wrote me that he would be arriving Monday.
    • write doing something They wrote thanking us for the present.

    Extra Examples

    • He wrote to the editor of the newspaper.
    • He still writes to me regularly.
    • She wrote me a postcard from Spain.

    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

    • beautifully
    • eloquently
    • well

    verb + write

    • commission somebody to
    • inspire somebody to
    • prompt somebody to

    preposition

    • about
    • for
    • from

    See full entry

  6. state in writing

  7. [transitive, intransitive] to state the information or the words mentioned
    • write that… The author writes that this theory has now been disproved.
    • write of something Ancient historians wrote of a lost continent beneath the ocean.
    • She wrote of her life in Africa.
    • + speech ‘Of all my books,’ wrote Dickens, ‘I like this the best.’

    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

    • beautifully
    • eloquently
    • well

    verb + write

    • commission somebody to
    • inspire somebody to
    • prompt somebody to

    preposition

    • about
    • for
    • from

    See full entry

  8. form

  9. [transitive] to put information in the appropriate places on a form
    • write something (out) to write (out) a cheque
    • write somebody something The doctor wrote her a prescription for more antibiotics.
    • write somebody out something I’ll write you out a receipt.
  10. computing

  11. [transitive, intransitive] write (something) to/onto something to record data in the memory of a computer
    • An error was reported when he tried to write data to the file for the first time.
  12. of pen/pencil

  13. [intransitive] to work correctly or in the way mentioned
    • This pen won’t write.

    More Like This Silent lettersSilent letters

    • gnarled
    • gnash
    • gnat
    • gnaw
    • gnome
    • haute cuisine
    • heir
    • herb
    • honour
    • hors d’oeuvre
    • hour
    • knack
    • knee
    • kneel
    • knife
    • knight
    • knit
    • knob
    • knock
    • knot
    • know
    • knuckle
    • psalm
    • psephology
    • psychic
    • ptarmigan
    • pterodactyl
    • psychology
    • wrangle
    • wrap
    • wreath
    • wreck
    • wrench
    • wrestle
    • wriggle
    • wring
    • write
    • wrong
    • bomb
    • climb
    • crumb
    • doubt
    • lamb
    • limb
    • ascent
    • fascinate
    • muscle
    • scene
    • scissors
    • height
    • right
    • sleigh
    • weight
    • align
    • campaign
    • design
    • foreign
    • malign
    • reign
    • unfeigned
    • balmy
    • calm
    • calf
    • half
    • yolk
    • autumn
    • column
    • condemn
    • damn
    • hymn
    • solemn
    • bristle
    • fasten
    • listen
    • mortgage
    • soften
    • thistle
    • wrestle
    • biscuit
    • build
    • circuit
    • disguise
    • guilty
    • league
    • rogue
    • vague
    • yacht
    • answer
    • sword
    • two

  14. Word OriginOld English wrītan ‘score, form (letters) by carving, write’, of Germanic origin; related to German reissen ‘sketch, drag’.

Idioms

be written all over somebody’s face

  1. (of a feeling) to be very obvious to other people from the expression on somebody’s face
    • Guilt was written all over his face.

have something/somebody written all over it/somebody

  1. (informal) to show clearly the quality mentioned or the influence of the person mentioned
    • It was a performance with star quality written all over it.
    • This essay has got Mike written all over it.

nothing (much) to write home about

  1. (informal) not especially good; ordinary
    • The team’s performance was nothing to write home about.

not worth the paper it’s written/printed on

  1. (of an agreement or official document) having no value, especially legally, or because one of the people involved has no intention of doing what they said they would

  1. (North American English, informal) used when you are stating that there is nothing more that can be said about something or that something is completely finished
    • We were doing well but we ran out of money and that’s all she wrote.

See write in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee write in the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary of Academic English

Check pronunciation:
write

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In common law, a writ (Anglo-Saxon gewrit, Latin breve)[1] is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court. Warrants, prerogative writs, subpoenas, and certiorari are common types of writ, but many forms exist and have existed.

In its earliest form, a writ was simply a written order made by the English monarch to a specified person to undertake a specified action; for example, in the feudal era a military summons by the king to one of his tenants-in-chief to appear dressed for battle with retinue at a certain place and time.[2] An early usage survives in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia in a writ of election, which is a written order issued on behalf of the monarch (in Canada, by the Governor General and, in Australia, by the Governor-General for elections for the House of Representatives, or State Governors for state elections) to local officials (High Sheriffs of every county in the United Kingdom) to hold a general election. Writs were used by the medieval English kings to summon people to Parliament[3] (then consisting primarily of the House of Lords) whose advice was considered valuable or who were particularly influential, and who were thereby deemed to have been created «barons by writ».

History[edit]

Origins[edit]

The writ was a unique development of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy and consisted of a brief administrative order, authenticated (innovatively) by a seal.[4] Written in the vernacular, they generally made a land grant or conveyed instructions to a local court. In the beginning, writs were the documents issued by the King’s Chancellor against a landowner whose vassal complained to the King about an injustice, after a first summon by the sheriff to comply had been deemed fruitless.[4] William the Conqueror took over the system unchanged, but was to extend it in two ways: first, writs became mainly framed in Latin, not Anglo-Saxon; second, they covered an increasing range of royal commands and decisions.[5] Writs of instruction continued to develop under his immediate successors, but it was not until Henry II that writs became available for purchase by private individuals seeking justice, thus initiating a vast expansion in their role within the common law.[6]

Writs could take two main forms: ‘letters patent’, which were open for all to read, and ‘letters close’ for one or more specified individuals alone.[7]

Development[edit]

The development of writs as a means of commencing a court action was a form of «off-the-shelf» justice designed to enable the English law courts to rapidly process lawsuits by allocating each form of complaint into a standard category which could be dealt with by standard procedures. The complainant simply applied to the court for the writ most relevant to his complaint to be sent to the wrongdoer, which ordered him under royal authority to attend a royal court to answer for his actions. The development was part of the establishment of a Court of Common Pleas, for dealing with commonly made complaints by subjects of the crown, for example: «someone has damaged my property». The previous system of justice at the royal court of Chancery was tailor-made to suit each case and was thus highly time-consuming. Thus eventually the obtaining of a writ became necessary, in most cases, to have a case heard in one of the Royal Courts, such as the King’s Bench or Common Pleas. Some franchise courts, especially in the Counties Palatine, had their own system of writs which often reflected or anticipated the common law writs. The writ was «served» on (delivered in person to) the wrongdoer and acted as a command that he should appear at a specified time and date before the court specified in the writ, or it might command some other act on the part of the recipient.

Where a plaintiff wished to have a case heard by a local court, or by the justice of an Eyre if one happened to be visiting the county, there would be no need to obtain a writ. Actions in local courts could usually be started by an informal complaint. However, if a plaintiff wished to avail himself of Royal — and by implication superior — justice in one of the King’s courts, then he would need a writ, a command of the King, to enable him to do this. Initially, for common law, recourse to the King’s courts was unusual, and something for which a plaintiff would have to pay. For most Royal Courts, the writ would usually have been purchased from the Chancery, although the court of the Exchequer, being, in essence, another government department, was able to issue its own writs.

While originally writs were exceptional, or at least non-routine devices, Maitland suggests that by the time of King Henry II (1154–1189), the use of writs had become a regular part of the system of royal justice in England.

At first, new writs were drafted to fit each new situation, although in practice the clerks of the Chancery would use wording from previously issued writs, with suitable adjustments, often taken from reference books containing collections of forms of writ, much as in modern times lawyers frequently use fixed precedents or boilerplate, rather than re-inventing the wording of a new legal document. The problem with this approach was that a plaintiff’s rights and available forms of action at his disposal, would be defined, and in most cases limited, by the limited variety of writs available to him. Thus the power to create new writs was akin to the power to create new rights, a form of extra-parliamentary legislation. Moreover, a writ, if one could be found fitting the plaintiff’s case, provided the legal means to remove the dispute from the jurisdiction of the local court, often controlled by a lesser noble, and instead have it heard by the King’s judges. The nobility thus saw the creation of new writs as an erosion of their influence.

Over time, opposition to the creation of new writs by the Chancery increased. For example, in 1256 a court was asked to quash a writ as «novel, unheard of, and against reason».[8] Ultimately in 1258, the King was forced to accept the Provisions of Oxford, which among other things, prohibited the creation of new forms of writ without the sanction of the King’s council. New writs were created after that time only by the express sanction of Parliament and the forms of writ remained essentially static, each writ defining a particular form of action. It was the role and expertise of a solicitor to select on his client’s behalf the appropriate writ for the proposed legal action. These were purchased from the court by payment of a fee. A barrister would then be hired by the solicitor to speak for his client in court.

Rationalisation of writs[edit]

With the abolition of the Forms of Action in 1832 and 1833, a profusion of writs was no longer needed, and one uniform writ came into use. After 1852, the need to state the name of the form of action was also abolished. In 1875, the form of writ was altered so that it conformed more to the subpoena used in the Chancery. A writ was a summons from the Crown, to the parties to the action, with on its back the substance of the action set out, together with a ‘prayer’ requesting a remedy from the court (for example damages). In 1980, the need for writs to be written in the name of the Crown was ended. From that time, a writ simply required the parties to appear.[9]

Writs applied to claims that were to be heard in one of the courts which eventually formed part of the High Court of Justice. The procedure in a county court, which was established by statute, was to issue a ‘summons’.

In 1999, the Woolf Reforms unified most of the procedure of the Supreme Court and the county courts in civil matters. These reforms brought in the Civil Procedure Rules. Under these, almost all civil actions, other than those connected with insolvency, are now commenced by the completion of a ‘Claim Form’ as opposed to the obtaining of a ‘Writ’, ‘Originating Application’, or ‘Summons’ (see Rules 7 and 8 of the Civil Procedure Rules).

List[edit]

The following writs, amongst others, existed in England:[10]

  • Advocatione decimarum was a writ which lay for claiming the fourth part or more of tithes which belong to the church: Reg of Writs, fol 29b.[11][12][13] The writ was founded on section 4 of chapter 5 of the Statute of Westminster 1285.[14][15][16] It was obsolete by 1876.[17][18]
  • Arrestandis bonis ne dissipentur was a writ which lay for a man whose cattle or goods were taken by another, who was likely, during the controversy, to make away with them, and would hardly have been able to make satisfaction for them afterwards. Reg of Writs 126. Cowel.[19][20] The writ lay to seize the cattle and goods in the hands of a party, and to hold them during the pendency of a suit, to prevent their being made away with. Reg Orig 126b.[21] In 1816, Williams said the writ lay anciently.[22] Also called bonis arrestandis.[23][24][25]
  • Arrestando ipsum qui pecuniam recepit was a writ which anciently lay for the apprehension of him who had taken prest money for the king’s wars, and afterwards hid himself, when he should have been ready to go. Reg Orig 24. Cowel.[26][27][28]
  • Arresto facto super bonis mercatorum alienigenorum was a writ that lay for a denizen against the goods of aliens found in the kingdom, as a recompense for goods taken from him in a foreign country after a refusal to restore them. Reg Orig 129; Cowel.[29][30] The writ was equivalent to clarigatio.[31][32]
  • Attornato faciendo,[33] or de attornato faciendo[34] or atturnato faciendo[35] or attornato recipiendo[36] or dedimus potestatem de attornato faciendo[37] or Attornato faciendo vel recipiendo, was a writ, commanding a sheriff or steward of a county court, or hundred court to receive an attorney for the person taking out the writ, and to admit his appearance by him. Cowel.[38][39] Sweet said it was the writ dedimus potestatem.[40] In 1760, Wynne said that the writ de attornato faciendo was obsolete.[41][42]
  • Auxilium ad filium militem faciendum et filiam maritandam,[43] or Auxilium ad filium primogenitum militem faciendum, vel ad filiam primogenitam maritandam,[44] was a writ directed to the sheriff of every county where the king or other lord had tenants, to levy of them reasonable aid towards the knighting of his son and the marriage of his eldest daughter. Cowel. No man was entitled to have this writ before his son had attained the age of fifteen years, or his daughter the age of seven years. FNB 82 A; Reg Orig 87; Glanvil, l 9, c 8;[43][45][46] Statute of Westminster 1275 c 36.[47] This writ was abolished by the Tenures Abolition Act 1660 (12 Car 2 c 24).[48][49]
  • Ayel, or ayle or de avo[50] or aile[51] or aiel,[52] was a writ which lay for an heir to recover the possession of lands of which a grandfather or grandmother was seized in fee simple on the day of his or her death; and a stranger entered on that day and abated or dispossessed the heir of the inheritance. FNB 221D; 3 Bl Com 186. It was a possessory ancestral writ.[50][53][54] 1 Rosc Real Act 127. It was abolished by section 36 of the Real Property Limitation Act 1833 (3 & 4 Will 4 c 27).[50] Ayle was one of a group of writs that consisted of ayle, besayle, tresayle and cosinage.[55]
  • Chartis reddendis was a writ which lay against him that has charters of feoffment delivered him to be kept, and refuses to deliver them. Old Nat Brev, fol 66. Reg Orig, fol 159.[56][57][58] It was a writ of detinue of charters.[59][60] It had fallen into disuse by 1816[61] and was obsolete by 1843.[62][63]

Writ of election[edit]

In some Westminster systems, for example Canada and some other parliamentary systems, the phrase ‘dropping the writ’ refers colloquially to a dissolution of parliament and the beginning of an election campaign to form a new one. This phrase derives from the fact that to hold an election in such a system a writ of election must be issued on behalf of the monarch ordering the High Sheriffs of each county to set in motion the procedure for elections.

United States law[edit]

Return of the Writ shown above, endorsed by the Sheriff of Philadelphia, stating that he is still in possession of the attached property for want of a buyer

Early law of the United States inherited the traditional English writ system, in the sense of a rigid set of forms of relief that the law courts were authorized to grant. The All Writs Act[64] authorizes United States federal courts to «issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of their respective jurisdictions and agreeable to the usages and principles of law.» However, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted in 1938 to govern civil procedure in the United States district courts, provide that there is only one form of action in civil cases, and explicitly abolish certain writs by name. Relief formerly available by a writ is now normally available by a lawsuit (civil action) or a motion in a pending civil action. Nonetheless, a few writs have escaped abolition and remain in current use in the U.S. federal courts:

  • The writ of habeas corpus, usually used to test the legality of a prisoner’s detention, has expressly been preserved. It is explicitly mentioned in Article I, Section 9, Clause 2 of the Constitution of the United States. In the United States federal courts, the writ is most often used to review the constitutionality of criminal convictions rendered by state courts. The writ’s application does not stop there: the Supreme Court has held the writ of habeas corpus open to all individuals held by the federal government, including Guantanamo Bay detainees. See Boumediene v. Bush.
  • By statute, the Supreme Court of the United States uses the writ of certiorari to review cases from the United States courts of appeals or from the state courts.
  • In extraordinary circumstances, the United States court of appeals can use the common law writ of prohibition under the All Writs Act to control proceedings in the district courts.
  • Some courts have held that in rare circumstances in a federal criminal case, a United States district court may use the common law writ of error coram nobis under the All Writs Act to set aside a conviction when no other remedy is available.
  • In modern times, the All Writs Act is most commonly used as authority for federal courts to issue injunctions to protect their jurisdiction or effectuate their judgments.

The situation in the courts of the various U.S. states varies from state to state but is often similar to that in the federal courts. Some states continue to use writ procedures, such as quo warranto, that have been abolished as a procedural matter in federal courts.

In an attempt to purge Latin from the language of the law, California law has for many years used the term ‘writ of mandate’ in place of writ of mandamus, and writ of review in place of writ of certiorari.

Prerogative writs[edit]

The «prerogative» writs are a subset of the class of writs, those that are to be heard ahead of any other cases on a court’s docket except other such writs. The most common of the other such prerogative writs are habeas corpus, quo warranto, prohibito, mandamus, procedendo, and certiorari.

The due process for ‘petitions for’ such writs is not simply civil or criminal, because they incorporate the presumption of non-authority, so that the official who is the respondent has the burden to prove his authority to do or not do something, failing which the court has no discretion but to decide for the petitioner, who may be any person, not just an interested party. In this, they differ from a motion in a civil process in which the burden of proof is on the movant, and in which there can be a question of standing.

Other writs[edit]

  • A writ of attachment permits the seizure of private property.
  • A writ of audita querela inhibits the unconscionable use of a lawful judgment because of matters arising subsequent to the judgment.
  • A writ of capias directs an officer to take into custody the person named in the writ or order.[65]
  • A writ of coram nobis corrects a previous error «of the most fundamental character» to «achieve justice» where «no other remedy» is available, e.g., when a judgment was rendered without full knowledge of the facts.
  • A writ of elegit orders the seizure of a portion of a debtor’s lands and all his goods (except work animals) towards satisfying a creditor, until the debt is paid off.
  • A writ of error is issued by an appellate court, and directs a lower court of record to submit its record of the case laid for appeal.[66]
  • A writ of exigent (or exigend) commands a sheriff to summon a defendant indicted for a felony, who had failed to appear in court, to deliver himself up upon pain of outlawry or forfeiture of his goods.
  • A writ of fieri facias (colloquially «fi fa») commands a sheriff to take and auction off enough property from a losing party to pay the debt (plus interest and costs) owed by a judgment debtor.
  • A writ of mittimus orders either (1) a court to send its record to another or (2) a jailor to receive the accused in his or her custody at any point during the investigative or trial process.
  • A writ of ne exeat restrains a defendant from fleeing the country or jurisdiction.
  • A writ of praemunire instructs a sheriff to order someone to appear in court to answer for any of a number of different crimes.
  • A writ of scire facias revives a dormant judgment.
  • A writ of supersedeas contains a command to stay the proceedings at law.[67]
  • A writ of venire facias summons jurors to appear in court.[68]

Indian law[edit]

Under the Indian legal system, jurisdiction to issue ‘prerogative writs’ is given to the Supreme Court, and to the High Courts of Judicature of all Indian states. Parts of the law relating to writs are set forth in the Constitution of India. The Supreme Court, the highest in the country, may issue writs under Article 32 of the Constitution for enforcement of fundamental rights and under Article 139 for enforcement of rights other than fundamental rights, while High Courts, the superior courts of the States, may issue writs under Articles 226. The Constitution broadly provides for five kinds of «prerogative» writs: habeas corpus, certiorari, mandamus, quo warranto and prohibition:

  • The writ of prohibition (forbid) is issued by a higher court to a lower court prohibiting it from taking up a case because it falls outside the jurisdiction of the lower court. Thus, the higher court transfers the case to itself.
  • The writ of habeas corpus (to have the body of) is issued to a detaining authority, ordering the detainer to produce the detained person in the issuing court, along with the cause of his or her detention. If the detention is found to be illegal, the court issues an order to set the person free.
  • The writ of certiorari (be informed) is issued to a lower court directing that the record of a case be sent up for review, together with all supporting files, evidence, and documents, usually with the intention of overruling the judgment of the lower court. It is one of the mechanisms by which the fundamental rights of the citizens are upheld.
  • The writ of mandamus (command) is issued to a subordinate court, an officer of the government, or a corporation or other institution commanding the performance of certain acts or duties. But it cannot be issued against a Public Authority for enforcing a Private Contractual Obligation read more
  • The writ of quo warranto (by what authority; under what warrant) is issued against a person who claims or usurps a public office. Through this writ, the court inquires ‘by what authority’ the person supports his or her claim.

See also[edit]

  • List of writs

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ S. H. Steinberg ed., A New Dictionary of British History (London 1963) p. 402
  2. ^ Francis Palgrave, Parliamentary Writs and Writs of Military Summons (2 volumes, 1827 and 1834)
  3. ^ R. Wickson, The Community of the Realm in 13th Century England (London 1970) p.66
  4. ^ a b G. O. Sayles, The Medieval Foundations of England (London 1966) p. 174
  5. ^ D. Douglas, William the Conqueror (London 1966) p. 293
  6. ^ G. O. Sayles, The Medieval Foundations of England (London 1966) pp. 305, 332–33
  7. ^ R. Wickson, the Community of the Realm in 13th C England (London 1970) p. 24
  8. ^ Abbot of Lilleshall v Harcourt (1256) 96 SS xxix 44
  9. ^ Rules of the Supreme Court (Writ and Appearance) 1979 (Statutory Instrument 1979, No. 1716)[1], discussed in House of Lords in 1980,[2]
  10. ^ For a list of writs, see for example, «Antiquities of the Law» (1870) 1 Albany Law Journal 247.
  11. ^ John Rastell and William Rastell. Les Termes de la Ley. In the Savoy. 1721. p 27
  12. ^ Black’s Law Dictionary, 2nd Ed, 1910, p 44.
  13. ^ Ephraim Chambers. «Advocatione». Cyclopaedia. Fifth Edition. 1741. Volume 1.
  14. ^ Finlason. Reeves’ History of the English Law. New American Edition. 1880. p 501.
  15. ^ Ruffhead. «Advowson» in «The Table». The Statutes at Large. 1765. Volume 9.
  16. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. 9th Ed. 1888. vol 23. p 412.
  17. ^ Mozley and Whiteley. A Concise Law Dictionary. Butterworths. London. 1876. p 15.
  18. ^ See further FNB 30 and 2 Co Inst 489 and 646.
  19. ^ Henry James Holthouse. A New Law Dictionary. 2nd Ed. London. Boston. 1850. p 29.
  20. ^ Ephraim Chambers. «Arrestandis». Cyclopaedia. Fifth Edition. 1741. Volume 1.
  21. ^ Adams. A Juridicial Glossary. 1886. vol 1. p 277.
  22. ^ Thomas Walter Williams. «ARR». A Compendious and Comprehensive Law Dictionary. 1816.
  23. ^ Mozely and Whitely, A Concise Law Dictionary, 1876, p 48
  24. ^ See further 2 Co Inst 328; «The Merry Wives of Windsor» (1984) 59 Shakespearean Criticism 150; Dolan (ed), «Renaissance Drama and the Law» (1996) 25 Renaissance Drama 158; Ross, Elizabethan Literature and the Law of Fraudulent Conveyance, 2003, p 26.
  25. ^ As to the meaning of «cattle» generally, see for example Stroud, The Judicial Dictionary, 1890, p 113; and Dwarris, A General Treatise on Statutes, 2nd Ed, 1848,
    p 248.
  26. ^ Henry James Holthouse. A New Law Dictionary. 2nd Ed. London. Boston. 1850. p 29.
  27. ^ Ephraim Chambers. «Arrestando». Cyclopaedia. Fifth Edition. 1741. Volume 1.
  28. ^ See further 2 Co Inst 53; Reg Orig 24; Tyler v Pomeroy (1864) 8 Allen’s Massachusetts Reports 480 at 487.
  29. ^ Henry James Holthouse. A New Law Dictionary. 2nd Ed. London. Boston. 1850. p 29.
  30. ^ Ephraim Chambers. «Arresto». Cyclopaedia. Fifth Edition. 1741. Volume 1.
  31. ^ Adams. A Juridicial Glossary. 1886. vol 1. p 191.
  32. ^ See further Reg Orig 129; 2 Co Inst 205; FNB 114; 4 Co Inst 124; De Lovio v Boit (1815) 2 Gallison 398 at 408, 23 Myer’s Federal Decisions 20 at 26; Molloy, De jure maritimo et navali, p 29; 17 Viner’s Abridgment 4.
  33. ^ An Abridgment of Sir Edward Coke’s Reports. New York. 1813. p 233
  34. ^ Maugham. A Treatise on the Law of Attornies, Solicitors and Agents. 1825. p 6.
  35. ^ The New Encyclopaedia. 1807. vol 3. p 78.
  36. ^ Adams. A Juridicial Glossary. 1886. vol 1. p 277.
  37. ^ Adams. A Juridicial Glossary. 1886. vol 1. p 619.
  38. ^ Henry James Holthouse. A New Law Dictionary. 2nd Ed. London. Boston. 1850. p 36
  39. ^ Ephraim Chambers. «Atturnato«. Cyclopaedia. Fifth Edition. 1741. Volume 1.
  40. ^ Sweet. A Dictionary of English Law. 1882. p 153.
  41. ^ Edward Wynne. «Observations on Fitzherbert’s Natura Brevium». 1760. printed in «A Miscellany containing Several Law Tracts». 1765. p 24.
  42. ^ See further FNB 156
  43. ^ a b Henry James Holthouse. A New Law Dictionary. 2nd Ed. London. Boston. 1850. p 39.
  44. ^ Adams. A Juridicial Glossary. 1886. vol 1. p 230.
  45. ^ Ephraim Chambers. «Auxilium». Cyclopaedia. Fifth Edition. 1741. Volume 1.
  46. ^ English. A Dictionary of Words and Phrases Used in Ancient and Modern Law. 1899. Reprinted 2000. vol 1. p 79.
  47. ^ Digby. An Introduction to the History of the Law of Real Property. 2nd Ed. 1876. p 117. The enactment which is chapter 36 in Ruffhead’s edition is sometimes cited as chapter 35.
  48. ^ Mozely and Whitely. A Concise Law Dictionary. 1876. p 36
  49. ^ See further 2 Broom & Had Com 144; FNB 82 and 83; and The Law-french Dictionary.
  50. ^ a b c Henry C Adams. A Juridical Glossary. 1886. Weed, Parsons & Company. Albany, New York. Volume 1. p 278.
  51. ^ John Rastell and William Rastell. Les Termes de la Ley. In the Savoy. 1721. p 35
  52. ^ 1 Rosc Real Act 127
  53. ^ Ephraim Chambers. «Ayel». Cyclopaedia. Fifth Edition. 1741. Volume 1.
  54. ^ Also called an ancestral possessory writ: 1 Rosc. Real Act. 127; Martin, Civil Procedure at Common Law, 1899, p 127. Ayel is an ancestral writ: Roberts, A Digest of Select British Statutes, 1817, p 148. Cf. Booth, p 83.
  55. ^ Roberts, A Digest of Select British Statutes, 1817, p 148. Buchanan, A Technological Dictionary, 1846, p 133. (1879) 112 Westminster Review 356. (1943) Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research 217. Booth, The Nature and Practice of Real Actions, 2nd Ed, 1811, Ch 16, pp 200 to 205.
  56. ^ John Rastell and William Rastell. Les Termes de la Ley. In the Savoy. 1721. p 119.
  57. ^ Ephraim Chambers. «Chartis». Cyclopaedia. Fifth Edition. 1741. Volume 1.
  58. ^ Bouvier’s Law Dictionary. Revised 6th Ed. 1856.
  59. ^ Stewart Rapalje and Robert L Lawrence. A Dictionary of American and English Law. Frederick D Lynn & Co. Jersey City. 1888. vol 1. p 341.
  60. ^ «Detinue of charters» (or «detinue for charters») was a form of detinue.
  61. ^ Williams. » Chartis reddendis«. A Compendious and comprehensive Law Dictionary. 1816.
  62. ^ Bouvier. A Law Dictionary. 2nd Ed. 1843. vol 1. p 257.
  63. ^ See further, Finlason, Reeves’ History of the English Law, 1869, vol 2, pp 383 to 385; and Troubat, The Practice in Civil Actions and Proceedings, 1837, vol 2, p 30.
  64. ^ 28 U.S.C. § 1651
  65. ^ «Glossary of Terms», Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk, s.v. «capias», retrieved on 30 Jun 2009: [3].
  66. ^ «Writ and Petition History System in Texas» page 90 In Quarles, Brandon D. and Cordon, Matthew C. (2003) Legal Research for the Texas Practitioner  W.S. Hein, Buffalo, New York, ISBN 978-0-8377-3626-6
  67. ^ «Glossary of Terms», Colorado State Courts, retrieved on 19 June 2009: [4].
  68. ^ «Gloss…Terms», Shelby (op. cit.), s.v. «Venire facias».

Bibliography[edit]

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section

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD WRIT

Old English; related to Old Norse rit, Gothic writs stroke, Old High German riz (German Riss a tear).

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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

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section

PRONUNCIATION OF WRIT

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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF WRIT

Writ is a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES WRIT MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Writ

In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court. Warrants, prerogative writs and subpoenas are common types of writs but there are many others.


Definition of writ in the English dictionary

The definition of writ in the dictionary is a document under seal, issued in the name of the Crown or a court, commanding the person to whom it is addressed to do or refrain from doing some specified act Official name: claim. Other definition of writ is a piece or body of writing.

Synonyms and antonyms of writ in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS OF «WRIT»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «writ» and belong to the same grammatical category.

Translation of «writ» into 25 languages

online translator

TRANSLATION OF WRIT

Find out the translation of writ to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of writ from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «writ» in English.

Translator English — Chinese


传票

1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English — Spanish


mandato judicial

570 millions of speakers

English


writ

510 millions of speakers

Translator English — Hindi


रिट

380 millions of speakers

Translator English — Arabic


أمر

280 millions of speakers

Translator English — Russian


лист

278 millions of speakers

Translator English — Portuguese


mandado judicial

270 millions of speakers

Translator English — Bengali


লেখন

260 millions of speakers

Translator English — French


acte judiciaire

220 millions of speakers

Translator English — Malay


Writ

190 millions of speakers

Translator English — German


gerichtliche Verfügung

180 millions of speakers

Translator English — Japanese


令状

130 millions of speakers

Translator English — Korean


명령서

85 millions of speakers

Translator English — Javanese


Writ

85 millions of speakers

Translator English — Vietnamese


lịnh

80 millions of speakers

Translator English — Tamil


நீதிப்பேராணை

75 millions of speakers

Translator English — Marathi


रिट

75 millions of speakers

Translator English — Turkish


ferman

70 millions of speakers

Translator English — Italian


ordine

65 millions of speakers

Translator English — Polish


nakaz

50 millions of speakers

Translator English — Ukrainian


лист

40 millions of speakers

Translator English — Romanian


citație

30 millions of speakers

Translator English — Greek


διαταγή

15 millions of speakers

Translator English — Afrikaans


lasbrief

14 millions of speakers

Translator English — Swedish


writ

10 millions of speakers

Translator English — Norwegian


stevning

5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of writ

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «WRIT»

The term «writ» is quite widely used and occupies the 25.940 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.

Trends

FREQUENCY

Quite widely used

The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «writ» in the different countries.

Principal search tendencies and common uses of writ

List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «writ».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «WRIT» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «writ» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «writ» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about writ

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «WRIT»

Discover the use of writ in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to writ and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

1

Holy Writ as Oral Lit: The Bible as Folklore

This book helps us resolve some of the mysteries and contradictions that evolved during the Bible’s pre-written legacy and that persist in the Great Book today.

2

Mechanisms of Democracy : Institutional Design Writ Small: …

In this book, Adrian Vermeule moves beyond these debates, changing the focus to institutional design writ small.

Adrian Vermeule Professor of Law Harvard Law School, 2007

Masterful storytelling … gripping legal drama … relentless suspense — these are the hallmarks of Perri O’Shaughnessy’s work.

Perri O’Shaughnessy, 2007

4

Straight Writ Queer: Non-Normative Expressions of …

«This book examines literature previously viewed as «straight» in a search for alternative manifestations of desire and performance, relationships that contain an apparent disconnect between gender and desire.

5

Habeas Corpus: Rethinking the Great Writ of Liberty

In this timely volume, Eric M. Freedman reexamines four of the Supreme Court’s most important habeas corpus rulings: one by Chief Justice John Marshall in 1807 concerning Aaron Burr’s conspiracy, two arising from the traumatic national …

6

Holy Writ: Interpretation in Law and Religion

This volume presents a discussion of interpretation in law and religion with the multidisciplinary group of authors discussing the textualist approach presented here by American Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, with reference to both …

Professor Paul Cliteur, Dr Arie-Jan Kwak, 2013

Exposing the true nature of Holy Writ was the main purpose for writing Unholy Writ. The modus operandi for this expose involved a thoroughgoing critical analysis of Scripture.

8

A Treatise of the Writ of Habeas Corpus: Including …

First edition of this comprehensive work discusses all aspects of the writ and its jurisdiction in English common law and United States federal and state courts.

William Smithers Church, 1886

9

The Writ of Habeas Corpus: The Right to Have Your Day in Court

Describes the history behind the development of habeas corpus and explains how it is used today.

10

The Landlord’s Legal Guide in Texas

A landlord who wins an eviction suit gets a judgment for possession and a writ of
possession. The writ of possession is the name for the legal document that
authorizes the sheriff or constable to forcibly remove the tenant from the premises
if …

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «WRIT»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term writ is used in the context of the following news items.

Writ’s end: Everybody please stop saying ‘drop the writ

It’s election time in Canada. Or at least it’s rumours-of-an-early-election-call time in Canada. And many, many people have been talking about writs being … «iPolitics.ca, Jul 15»

SC dismisses writ plea by Wayanad medical college

The Supreme Court on Thursday held that though citizens have a right to establish institutions to impart medical and technical education, they enjoy no … «The Hindu, Jul 15»

Writ seeks Maya’s legitimacy as lawmaker and minister

A writ petition has been filed requesting the High Court to issue a rule seeking an explanation regarding Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal … «DhakaTribune, Jul 15»

Football club issues High Court writ against police force for ‘illegal …

A Championship football club has issued a High Court writ against a police force for more than £500,000. Ipswich Town Football Club claims it has been the … «Police Oracle, Jun 15»

SC junks Korean’s petition for writ of amparo, orders raps vs Manila …

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court rejected a petition for a writ of amparo filed by a South Korean fugitive and at the same time ordered administrative … «InterAksyon, Jun 15»

Haslam issues writ, setting up election to replace Haynes

Bill Haslam formally issued a writ of election Monday, clearing the way for a contest this year to replace Ryan Haynes in the state Legislature. The primary to … «WBIR-TV, Jun 15»

In Wild West pre-writ period, parties, advocacy groups issue political …

Federal political parties and third-party interest groups are taking advantage of the unregulated pre-election writ period to spend untold millions on radio and … «CityNews, May 15»

New York court issues habeas corpus writ for chimpanzees

A judge in New York has issued a writ of habeas corpus in a case brought by animal rights activists on behalf of two chimpanzees. The order means the … «BBC News, Apr 15»

HCs can’t interfere with civil courts’ orders under writ jurisdiction: SC

NEW DELHI: Judicial orders of civil courts cannot be interfered with by the High Courts while exercising writ jurisdiction relating to their power to quash orders of … «Economic Times, Mar 15»

Comelec issues writ of execution; orders Antique Gov. Javier to …

SAN JOSE, Antique — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a writ of execution following its earlier ruling disqualifying Antique Gov. Exequiel B. «InterAksyon, Jan 15»

REFERENCE

« EDUCALINGO. Writ [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/writ>. Apr 2023 ».

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  • Defenition of the word writ

    • a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer
    • (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer

Synonyms for the word writ

    • court order
    • injunction
    • judicial writ
    • summons

Similar words in the writ

    • writ
    • writ’s
    • writable
    • write
    • writer
    • writer’s
    • writes
    • writhe
    • writhed
    • writhes
    • writhing
    • writing
    • writing’s
    • writs
    • written

Hyponyms for the word writ

    • assize
    • attachment
    • certiorari
    • court order
    • fieri facias
    • habeas corpus
    • mandamus
    • process
    • scire facias
    • sequestration
    • subpoena
    • subpoena ad testificandum
    • subpoena duces tecum
    • summons
    • venire facias
    • warrant
    • writ of certiorari
    • writ of detinue
    • writ of election
    • writ of error
    • writ of habeas corpus
    • writ of mandamus
    • writ of prohibition
    • writ of right

Hypernyms for the word writ

    • instrument
    • legal document
    • legal instrument
    • official document

See other words

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    • Translation of the word in other languages asked

  • Top Definitions
  • Quiz
  • Related Content
  • Examples
  • British

This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.

This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.


noun

Law.

  1. a formal order under seal, issued in the name of a sovereign, government, court, or other competent authority, enjoining the officer or other person to whom it is issued or addressed to do or refrain from some specified act.
  2. (in early English law) any formal document in letter form, under seal, and in the sovereign’s name.

something written; a writing: sacred writ.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Which sentence is correct?

Origin of writ

1

before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old Norse rit writing, Gothic writs letter. See write

Words nearby writ

wrist plate, wrist shot, wrist watch, wrist wrestling, wristy, writ, writable, write, write-down, write-in, write-in candidate

Other definitions for writ (2 of 2)


verb Archaic.

a simple past tense and past participle of write.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to writ

summons, command, decree, document, mandate, paper, prescript, process, subpoena, warrant, habeas corpus, replevin

How to use writ in a sentence

  • What Republicans really stand forThis is important, because it gets at the actual argument, writ large, that Republicans are making right now.

  • Gomitaku writ large, the print towers over the show to exemplify trash that’s typically much smaller or even, in the case of microplastics, unseeable with the naked eye.

  • The lawsuit seeks a writ of mandamus — a court order that would require OSHA to fulfill its duties.

  • We also asked pollsters what, if anything, they were still worried about in 2020, regarding either their own polls or the polling industry writ large.

  • A real problem for the polling industry writ large was the underrepresentation of voters with little or no college education.

  • Writ in its history are all the ills and passions of the past century.

  • If only women are getting fired, the reason is not holy writ.

  • McCain said additional economic sanctions against Russia writ large were also called for.

  • Baghdadi is unlikely to comply, and Zawahiri has long been unable to enforce his writ on the Iraqi branch of al Qaeda.

  • This is the issue of assimilation writ in flashing neon lights.

  • I’ve got a writ here, Baptiste, and will be glad to have you tell me where this stuff of yours is so I can go and get it.

  • Here, ma’am, is the writ of subpœny ‘t calls for her to be a witness in a case of assault an’ battery.

  • So St. Luke writ the gospel having diligently attained to all things.

  • The Puritans attacked the drama as contrary to Holy Writ, as destructive of religion, and as a menace to public morality.

  • In his case, as in the case of Spencer Cowper, an attempt was made to obtain a writ of appeal.

British Dictionary definitions for writ (1 of 2)


noun

law (formerly) a document under seal, issued in the name of the Crown or a court, commanding the person to whom it is addressed to do or refrain from doing some specified actOfficial name: claim

archaic a piece or body of writingHoly Writ

Word Origin for writ

Old English; related to Old Norse rit, Gothic writs stroke, Old High German riz (German Riss a tear). See write

British Dictionary definitions for writ (2 of 2)


verb

archaic, or dialect a past tense and past participle of write

writ large plain to see; very obvious

Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

What Is a Writ?

The term writ refers to a formal, legal document that orders a person or entity to perform or to cease performing a specific action or deed. Writs are drafted by judges, courts, or other entities that have administrative or judicial jurisdiction. These documents are part of common law and are often issued after a judgment is made, giving those involved in a suit the ability to carry out the judgment.

Writs can take many forms including summonses, writs of execution, writs of habeas corpus, warrants, and orders.

Key Takeaways

  • A writ is a formal, legal document that orders a person or entity to perform or to cease performing a specific action or deed.
  • Writs are drafted by courts or other entities with jurisdictional or legal power.
  • Warrants and subpoenas are two common types of writs.

How Writs Work

A document or order that directs any form of action from a court is generally known as a writ. Writs provide directions from an entity that holds jurisdictional or administrative power to another party.

Writs were developed as part of the English common law system and were primarily issued by Anglo-Saxon monarchs. These writs were written decrees that consisted of administrative commands written in layman’s terms, largely authenticated by a royal seal at the bottom of the document. Upon issue, writs advised courts of land-granting conveyances. In some cases, they were also used to carry out judicial orders. While many writs were deemed open and read aloud in public, others were meant merely for the party or parties named.

Writs were developed over time as a way for authorities—legal and otherwise—to direct others to perform specific actions. This means that a modern-day writ provides an order from a higher to a lower court, from a court to an individual or other entity, or from a government agency to another party. The writ may command the named party to take some form of action or it may prevent that party from continuing to act or operate in a certain way. Present-day courts also use writs as a way to give extraordinary relief or to provide rights to appeal court decisions. In other cases, they give authorities such as sheriffs the right to make property seizures.

Types of Writs

Any direct order that is issued under authority is a writ. Warrants and subpoenas are two common types of writs. A warrant is a writ issued by a judge or magistrate that allows a sheriff, constable, or police officer to search a person or property—commonly known as a search warrant. Other warrants include an arrest warrant for an individual or individuals and an execution warrant allowing the execution of an individual who has been sentenced to death in a trial court.

A subpoena is a writ that compels a witness to testify or compels an individual or organization to produce evidence. Certain writs were eliminated because the relief that used to be available only through a writ is now accessible through a lawsuit or a motion in a civil action.

You may find relief by filing a lawsuit or a motion in civil court when getting a writ in your favor isn’t an option.

Example of a Writ

A writ of execution is a court order that allows a piece of property to be transferred from one party to another. The plaintiff or injured party must commence legal action against the defendant in order to get this court order. Once the writ is drafted, the property is seized by a court official or member of law enforcement. The property is then transferred or sold, with the proceeds going to the plaintiff in cash.

Another example of a writ is the writ of seizure and sale is one example of a writ. When this writ is drafted by a court, it gives the petitioning party the right to take over ownership of a piece of property from someone else. In most cases, the petitioner is normally a creditor who is allowed to seize property from a borrower when the latter defaults on their financial obligation. Once seized, the property can be sold in order to recoup any losses by the creditor.

Writs of habeas corpus and certiorari are both used by courts for legal purposes, usually in favor of a defendant. A writ of habeas corpus can be used to evaluate the constitutionality of criminal convictions delivered by state courts. When the writ is issued, a public official is ordered to produce an imprisoned individual before the court to determine whether their confinement is legal. These writs are useful when people are imprisoned for long periods of time before they’re actually convicted or charged with a crime. The writ of certiorari, on the other hand, is used by the U.S. federal courts. This writ is issued by the Supreme Court of the United States to a lower court to review that court’s judgment for legal error or when no other avenue for appeal is available.

Where Does the Word «Writ» Come From?

The etymology of the word writ comes from Old English, as a general term denoting written matter, which is itself from the Old Germanic base of «write» (gewrit).

Where Did Writs Originate?

Writs developed in the middle ages in England, originally for the King’s court to settle land ownership and title disputes or lodge complaints against landowners.

How Are Writs Used in American Law?

Initially, the American government adopted the writ system it inherited from the British. In 1798, the Congress passed the All Writs Act, which authorized the United States federal courts to «issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of their respective jurisdictions and agreeable to the usages and principles of law.» A 1938 Supreme Court ruling greatly curtailed the widespread use of writs in civil cases, though courts today may still use writs to issue injunctions. Note also that the writ of habeas corpus, usually used to test the legality of a prisoner’s detention, continues to exist.

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