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mandamus

noun

  1. court order to perform a public duty
L323593 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /mænˈdeɪməs/

noun

Etymology: From Latin mandāmus (“we command”).

  1. A common law prerogative writ that compels a court or government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly.

    I admit to all my learned friends that a Mandamus does not issue where there is another course of proceeding by which the thing can be effected; but I again state to your Lordships, that if in this case a Mandamus must not issue, there is no other proceeding that can be adopted.

    And then it was moved that the court would grant a mandamus to the delegates to admit the bishop's allegations: and it was compared to the cases where they grant mandamuses to compel the granting of probates of wills or letters of administration.

verb

Etymology: From Latin mandāmus (“we command”).

  1. To serve a writ of this kind upon.