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Writ

Legal Definition and Related Resources of Writ

Meaning of Writ

A command or a precept from the sovereign. Also, a document issued out of a court, commanding the person to whom it is addressed to do or forbear from doing some act. Writs are of two kinds, prerogative and of right. For prerogative writs see Certiorari, Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition. A writ of right lay at common law for the recovery of lands in fee simple unjustly withheld from the owner. A judicial writ is one issued by a court under its own seal, by which civil proceedings are commenced. They may also be interlocutory, such as a writ of attachment or sequestration. It may also be a writ of execution of the judgment obtained in an action.

Writ Alternative Definition

In practice. A mandatory precept, issued by the authority and in the name of the sovereign or the state, for the purpose of compelling the defendant to do something therein mentioned. *The common-law writs, of which there were a multitude, generally bore specific Latin names, from their purpose, or from their emphatic words. The aim in the present work has been to place these according to their customary form. The great majority of them, being customarily introduced by the prefix “De,” or “Pro,” will be found so placed. Those hot customarily so introduced will be found under the first word of their names. Writs having English names are placed under the name without the prefix “Writ of” (e. g., “Habeas Corpus”) except where such short form is never used, in which case the prefix is used, and the phrase placed under “W” (e. g., “Writ of Right”). It is issued by a court or other competent jurisdiction, and is returnable to the same. It is to be under seal and tested by the proper officer, and is directed to the sheriff or other officer lawfully authorized to execute the same. Writs are divided into original, by which actions or proceedings are begun, of mesne process, by which interlocutory proceedings are initiated, of execution, by which the judgment or decree is carried into effect. See 3 Bl. Comm. 273; 1 Tidd, Prac. 93; Gould, PI. c. 2, § 1.

Writ Legal Definition

A court order requiring the performance of a specified act or giving authority to have the act done.

United States Constitutional Meaning of Writ

A court order.

Synonyms of Writ

noun

  • bid
  • bidding
  • command
  • commandment
  • decree
  • decretal
  • dictate
  • direction
  • directive
  • fiat
  • mandate
  • order
  • ordinance
  • precept
  • regulation
  • requirement Associated Concepts: concurrent writ
  • judicial writ
  • original writ
  • preemptory writ
  • prerogative writ
  • writ of attachment
  • writ of certiorari
  • writ of covenant
  • writ of detinue
  • writ of error
  • writ of error coram nobis
  • writ of execution
  • writ of habeas corpus
  • writ of inquiry
  • writ of mandemus
  • writ of prohibition
  • writ of protection
  • writ of quo warranto
  • writ of replevin
  • writ of right

Related Entries of Writ in the Encyclopedia of Law Project

Browse or run a search for Writ in the American Encyclopedia of Law, the Asian Encyclopedia of Law, the European Encyclopedia of Law, the UK Encyclopedia of Law or the Latin American and Spanish Encyclopedia of Law.

Writ in Historical Law

You might be interested in the historical meaning of this term. Browse or search for Writ in Historical Law in the Encyclopedia of Law.

Legal Abbreviations and Acronyms

Search for legal acronyms and/or abbreviations containing Writ in the Legal Abbreviations and Acronyms Dictionary.

Related Legal Terms

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Writ in the Dictionary Writ in our legal dictionaries
Browse the Legal Thesaurus Find synonyms and related words of Writ
Legal Maxims Maxims are established principles that jurists use as interpretive tools, invoked more frequently in international law
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Related topics Writ in the World Encyclopedia of Law

Notice

This definition of Writ is based on the The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary . This entry needs to be proofread.

Vocabularies (Semantic Web Information)

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Topic Map A group of names, occurrences and associations
Topic Tree A topic display format, showing the hierarchy
Sitemap Index Sitemap Index, including Taxonomies
https://legaldictionary.lawin.org/writ/ The URI of Writ (more about URIs)

Writ in the Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims

That which is written: a writing; a mandate or precept.

Note: This legal definition of Writ in the Dictionary of Law (English and American Jurisprudence) is from 1893.

English Spanish Translation of Writ

Orden o mandamiento judicial

Find other English to Spanish translations from the Pocket Spanish English Legal Dictionary (print and online), the English to Spanish to English dictionaries (like Writ) and the Word reference legal translator.

Writ in the law of the United States

Writ: Related U.S. Resources

See Also

Certiorari (in the U.S. Legal Encyclopedia) Habeas Corpus (Judicial Function) Injunction (Judicial Function).

Grammar

This term is a noun.

Etimology of Writ

(You may find writ at the world legal encyclopedia and the etimology of more terms).

Old English writ “something written, piece of writing,” from the past participle stem of writan (see write). Used of legal documents or instruments since at least 1121.

Meaning of Writ in Spanish

Description/ translation of writ into Spanish: mandato judicial, orden; writ of certiorari: orden de avocación (por la que el Tribunal Supremo de los Estados Unidos reclama del tribunal inferior los autos de una causa que se propone examinar)[1]

Note: for more information on related terms and on the area of law where writ belongs (criminal procedure law), in Spanish, see here.

Notes and References

  1. Translation of Writ published by Antonio Peñaranda

Resources

See Also

  • Law Dictionaries.
  • Prohibition, Writ of.
  • Writ in Law Enforcement

    Main Entry: Law Enforcement in the Legal Dictionary. This section provides, in the context of Law Enforcement, a partial definition of writ.

    Resources

    See Also

    • Law Enforcement Officer
    • Police
    • Law Enforcement Agency

    Further Reading

    Writ Meaning in the U.S. Court System

    A formal written command or order, issued by the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.

    Meaning of Writ in the U.S. Legal System

    Definition of Writ published by the National Association for Court Management: A judicial order directing a person to do something.

    Writ (Judicial Function)

    Writ

    Writ

    Writ

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