writ
pronunciation
How to pronounce writ in British English:
UK [rɪt]
How to pronounce writ in American English:
US [rɪt]
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- Noun:
- (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer
Word Origin
- writ (n.)
- 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.
Example
- 1. The colonel 's writ , as recorded in his " green book " of rambling political philosophy , replaced the rule of law .
- 2. Looking at the chaos of health reform in england now , I thank the heavens that westminster 's writ no longer runs in scotland on health issues .
- 3. A medieval innkeeper , for example , often offered the only lodging in town ; a boatman could cross only with the king 's writ .
- 4. And we saw that same desire to be free in tunisia , where the will of the people proved more powerful than the writ of a dictator .
- 5. In large tracts of india the writ of the government does not run , so leftists set up schools , extort taxes and impose their own rough form of justice in " people 's courts " . As a result maoists often serve as the only source of authority .