praecipe
noun
prae·ci·pe ˈpre-sə-ˌpē 
ˈprē-
ˈprē- variants or less commonly precipe
1
: any of various legal writs commanding a person to do something or to appear and show cause why he or she should not
2
: a written order requesting a clerk or prothonotary of a court to issue a writ and specifying the contents of the writ
Word History
Etymology
Middle English presepe, from Medieval Latin praecipe, from Latin, imperative of praecipere to instruct — more at precept
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
praecipe
noun
prae·ci·pe
variants also precipe
ˈpre-sə-ˌpē, ˈprē-
: a written request for an action (as the issuing of a writ of execution) from a party to a clerk of a court or sometimes to a judge
filed a praecipe for the writ of scire facias
shall issue upon praecipe of the plaintiff
Note: When addressed to a clerk, a praecipe is usually a request for some action that does not require immediate judicial review, such as the issuing of a subpoena or the preparing of a record for appellate review. When addressed to a judge, as for jury instructions in some jurisdictions, a praecipe is similar to a motion.