writ
- 01 C1 Advanced
an official document from a court that tells someone they must do something or stop doing something.
a formal written document, issued in the name of a court or other legal authority, commanding the addressee to perform or cease a specific act.
Simple“The court issued a writ to stop the company from building on the protected land.”
In context“The high court issued a writ of habeas corpus, requiring the authorities to bring the prisoner before a judge to determine the legality of their detention.”
UsageOften used with the verb 'serve' or 'issue'.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
the power or authority that a person or organization has to make people obey.
the extent of one's power, authority, or jurisdiction to enforce compliance or influence events.
Simple“The king's power was weak, and his writ did not run in the far north of the country.”
In context“In the lawless border regions, the central government's writ barely runs, leaving local warlords to dictate their own terms of trade.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'where someone's writ runs'.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
a formal document that officially starts an election process.
a formal document issued by a head of state or administrative body directing that an election be held.
Simple“The Prime Minister is expected to drop the writ for a general election next week.”
In context“Once the writ is issued, the formal campaign period begins and the date for the national vote is set in stone.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'drop the writ' or 'issue the writ'.
Synonyms
“It was geopolitics writ cleverly small, but love and laughter were able to find their place alongside struggle.”
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.