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writ

noun

  1. formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction
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Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɹɪt/

noun

Etymology: 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”).

  1. A written order, issued by a court, ordering someone to do (or stop doing) something.
  2. A document ordering that an election be conducted.
  3. An order issued by the House of Lords summoning peers to the Chamber.
  4. Authority, power to enforce compliance.

    We can't let them take advantage of the fact that there are so many areas of the world where no one's writ runs.

    Within Lololand, of course, no Chinese writ runs, no Chinese magistrate holds sway, and the people, more or less divided among themselves, are under the government of their tribal chiefs.

  5. That which is written; writing.

    Then to his hands that writ he did betake, / Which he disclosing, red thus, as the paper spake.

    Babylon, so much spoken of in Holy Writ

verb

Etymology: From Middle English writ, write, from Old English write.

  1. simple past of write

    I know the hand, in faith tis a faire hand, And whiter then the paper it writ on, Is the faire hand that writ.

    Lou's not Times foole, though roſie lips and cheeks VVithin his bending ſickles compaſſe come, Loue alters not with his breefe houres and vveekes, But beares it out euen to the edge of doome: If this be error and vpon me proued, I neuer vvrit, nor no man euer loued.

  2. past participle of write up

    I know the hand, in faith tis a faire hand, And whiter then the paper it writ on, Is the faire hand that writ.

    Let Virtuoſo’s in five years be Writ; / Yet not one Thought accuſe thy toil of Wit.