Writ

Writ
Writ Writ, n. [AS. writ, gewrit. See {Write}.] [1913 Webster] 1. That which is written; writing; scripture; -- applied especially to the Scriptures, or the books of the Old and New testaments; as, sacred writ. ``Though in Holy Writ not named.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Then to his hands that writ he did betake, Which he disclosing read, thus as the paper spake. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Babylon, so much spoken of in Holy Writ. --Knolles. [1913 Webster]

2. (Law) An instrument in writing, under seal, in an epistolary form, issued from the proper authority, commanding the performance or nonperformance of some act by the person to whom it is directed; as, a writ of entry, of error, of execution, of injunction, of mandamus, of return, of summons, and the like. [1913 Webster]

Note: Writs are usually witnessed, or tested, in the name of the chief justice or principal judge of the court out of which they are issued; and those directed to a sheriff, or other ministerial officer, require him to return them on a day specified. In former English law and practice, writs in civil cases were either original or judicial; the former were issued out of the Court of Chancery, under the great seal, for the summoning of a defendant to appear, and were granted before the suit began and in order to begin the same; the latter were issued out of the court where the original was returned, after the suit was begun and during the pendency of it. Tomlins. Brande. Encyc. Brit. The term writ is supposed by Mr. Reeves to have been derived from the fact of these formul[ae] having always been expressed in writing, being, in this respect, distinguished from the other proceedings in the ancient action, which were conducted orally. [1913 Webster]

{Writ of account}, {Writ of capias}, etc. See under {Account}, {Capias}, etc.

{Service of a writ}. See under {Service}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • writ — / rit/ n [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 in writing issued in the name of the… …   Law dictionary

  • writ — [rɪt] noun [countable, uncountable] LAW a document from a court that orders someone to do or not to do something: • A number of depositors issued a writ against the central bank, alleging that it had failed to exercise proper supervision. • an… …   Financial and business terms

  • writ — Form of written notice or command issued by a Court or other official. Can include writ of summons, writ of subpoena, writ of attachment, writ of habeas corpus, etc. (Dictionary of Canadian Bankruptcy Terms) United Glossary of Bankruptcy Terms… …   Glossary of Bankruptcy

  • writ — Ⅰ. writ [1] ► NOUN 1) a form of written command in the name of a court or other legal authority, directing a person to act or refrain from acting in a specified way. 2) (one s writ) one s power to enforce compliance or submission. ORIGIN Old… …   English terms dictionary

  • writ — writ1 [rit] vt., vi. archaic pt. & pp. of WRITE: now mainly in the phrase writ large, expressed, shown, or done on a larger scale or in a clearer or more emphatic way writ2 [rit] n. [ME < OE < writan: see WRITE] 1. Now Rare something… …   English World dictionary

  • Writ — Writ, obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of {Write}, for writeth. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Writ — Writ, archaic imp. & p. p. of {Write}. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Writ —   [rɪt, englisch] das, (s)/ s, ursprünglich ein schriftlicher Befehl des englischen Königs an einen Lehnsmann, heute im angelsächsischen Recht die mit dem Siegel eines Gerichts oder der Krone versehene, an eine Gerichts oder eine Privatperson… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Writ — [ rit] der; [s], s <aus engl. writ »behördlicher Erlass«, verwandt mit altnord. rit u. got. writs> im alten engl. Recht jeder schriftliche Befehl des Königs an einen Lehnträger, dessen Nichtbeachtung als Felonie, d. h. als Treuebruch,… …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • writ — (n.) O.E. writ something written, piece of writing, from the past participle stem of writan (see WRITE (Cf. write)). Used of legal documents or instruments since at least 1121 …   Etymology dictionary

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