A writ is a legal document that orders a person to do a particular thing.
He issued a writ against one of his accusers. [+ against]
[Also + for]
Synonyms: summons, document, decree, indictment More Synonyms of writ
2.
See writ large
3.
See writ large
writ in British English1
(rɪt)
noun
1. 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
Official name: claim
2. archaic
a piece or body of writing
Holy Writ
Word origin
Old English; related to Old Norse rit, Gothic writs stroke, Old High German riz (German Riss a tear). See write
writ in British English2
(rɪt)
verb
1. archaic or dialect a past tense and past participle of write
2. writ large
writ in American English1
(rɪt)
noun
1. Rare
something written; writing; document
2.
a formal legal document ordering or prohibiting some action
Idioms:
someone's writ runs
Word origin
ME < OE < writan: see write
writ in American English2
(rɪt)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
Archaic
write
now mainly in the phrase writ large, expressed, shown, or done on a larger scale or in a clearer or more emphatic way
Examples of 'writ' in a sentence
writ
These are the challenger banks' problems writ large.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The writ says the deal hatched by cops and the corporation caused him'serious damage '.
The Sun (2016)
And that problem, writ large, is my only worry about the book.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's as if they've become holy writ and you are not allowed to challenge them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I like to see the way plants move in autumn winds, the life of the season writ large on the garden.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The benefits of this were writ large at the Olympics in Rio last month when our impressively resilient and determined young women netted a gold in hockey.
The Sun (2016)
There is nowhere better to see geology writ large.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
The reasons for that were writ large yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The popular appeal to do all this is already writ large.
The Sun (2013)
The bishops are not named in the writ.
The Sun (2016)
The writ says he was critically ill.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Could not a formal writ be issued against him?
Veronica Buckley CHRISTINA QUEEN OF SWEDEN: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric (2004)
How do you serve a writ on a virus and how did all of this happen so suddenly?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He opened his mouth, fury and exasperation writ large.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They have European holy writ on their side.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Education is a kind of holy writ in Greece.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Where there was uncertainty about it, the court could issue the writ and require a return to be made.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He had left his camera at home and was using his mobile telephone to take family snapshots, the writ says.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Here evil is writ large.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was the Theatre of Cruelty writ large.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The writ says: 'There was an obvious conflict of interests now between them.
The Sun (2009)
Her writ says disciplinary action against her is unlawful because she was'not at serious fault '.
The Sun (2008)
Her High Court writ says she is unable to work as a nurse or anywhere she is likely to come into contact with scissors.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
writ
British English: writ NOUN
A writ is a legal document that orders a person to do a particular thing.
He issued a writ against one of his accusers.
American English: writ
Brazilian Portuguese: mandado judicial
Chinese: 传票
European Spanish: mandato judicial
French: acte judiciaireN
German: gerichtliche Verfügung
Italian: ordinescritto
Japanese: 令状
Korean: 명령서
European Portuguese: mandato judicial
Latin American Spanish: mandato judicial
All related terms of 'writ'
handwrite
to write by hand rather than by typing or printing
outwrite
to be better at writing than
Holy Writ
the Bible
writ large
If you say that something is writ large , you mean that it is very obvious.
writ of error
a writ directed to a lower court by an appellate court requiring the submission of the record of a legal action for review , in order to ascertain whether or not errors have been committed and so that the judgment may be upheld , reversed , or corrected
writ of right
a writ directed to a person who presided over a feudal court, directing him to render justice between his vassals in a dispute as to ownership of land: usually led to a trial in a royal court if feudal ownership was involved
writ of assistance
a writ issued by a court of equity , ordering the transfer of real property to the rightful owner
writ of attachment
a document by which a court orders the seizing of property in order to ensure satisfaction of a judgement
writ of certiorari
→ certiorari
writ of execution
a writ ordering that a judgment be enforced
writ of subpoena
a legal document commanding the attendance in court, as a witness , of the person on whom it is served, under a penalty
writ of summons
a legal document ordering a person to appear in court to answer a complaint
someone's writ runs
someone has power or authority of a specified kind or scope
writ of prohibition
an order from a higher court to a lower one to cease hearing or prosecuting some matter outside its jurisdiction
writ of habeas corpus
a legal document that requires the addressee to produce in court a person in its custody and justify his or her imprisonment
(noun)
Definition
a formal legal document ordering a person to do or not to do something
He issued a writ against one of his critics.
Synonyms
summons
She had received a summons to appear in court.
document
decree
indictment
Prosecutors may soon seek an indictment on fraud charges.
court order
subpoena
arraignment
The men are scheduled for arraignment on October 5th.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arraignment
The men are scheduled for arraignment on October 5th.
Synonyms
accusation,
charge,
complaint,
prosecution,
indictment,
impeachment,
denunciation,
incrimination
in the sense of indictment
Definition
a formal charge of crime, esp. in writing
Prosecutors may soon seek an indictment on fraud charges.