writ
n. countablen. an official document from a court that orders someone to do something or to stop doing something.
n. a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction. Often used in the context of legal proceedings to compel a specific action.
The court issued a writ to stop the construction.
The lawyers filed a writ of habeas corpus to challenge the prisoner's detention in court.
The high court granted a writ of mandamus, effectively forcing the government agency to perform its statutory duty after months of administrative paralysis.
From Middle English writ, from Old English writ and ġewrit (“writing”), from Proto-Germanic writą (“fissure, writing”), from Proto-Indo-European wrey-, *wrī- (“to scratch, carve, ingrave”). Cognate with Scots writ (“writ, writing, handwriting”), Icelandic rit (“writing, writ, literary work, publication”).
From Middle English writ, write, from Old English write.
Often followed by 'of' and a specific legal term, such as 'writ of summons' or 'writ of execution'.