writ

¹

[rit]

noun

1. 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.

2. something written; a writing.

   sacred writ.

writ

²

[rit]

verb

Archaic.

1. a simple past tense and past participle of write.

writ

¹

/ rɪt /

noun

1. Official name: claim. 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

2. archaic,  a piece or body of writing

   Holy Writ

writ

²

/ rɪt /

verb

1. archaic,  a past tense and past participle of write

2. plain to see; very obvious

Word History and Origins

Origin of writ¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of writ¹

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

Example Sentences

The filing asks the state's highest court to grant a rarely used writ of quo warranto to oust Wu from his office.

From BBC

Silver is correct to identify issues like immigration and the economy as the most important factors to the electorate writ large.

From Salon

After all, he and his goon squad, to their everlasting shame, have gone to the ends of the earth to crush free speech, especially any criticism of Israel or the administration’s nefarious deeds writ large.

From Salon

The joy of the experience is writ large over Schoeman's bearded face and in his every utterance.

From BBC

Before the deal he said he had seen "anxiety writ large" on the faces of British factory workers at Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull.

From BBC

Related Words

• summons