Wiktionary

writ

English

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Etymology

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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”).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɹɪt/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪt

Noun

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writ (countable and uncountable, plural writs)

  1. (law) A written order, issued by a court, ordering someone to do (or stop doing) something.
  2. Authority, power to enforce compliance.
    • 2009, Stephen Gale et al., The War on Terrorism: 21st-Century Perspectives‎[1], Transaction Publishers, →ISBN, page 30:
      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.
    • 1913, Elizabeth Kimball Kendall, A Wayfarer in China:
      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.
  3. (archaic) That which is written; writing.
  4. A written order, issued by the British House of Commons, ordering a parliamentary by-election, or an order, issued by the Lord Chancellor, ordering a general election, or one issued by the House of Lords summoning Peers to the Chamber.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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References

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Verb

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writ

  1. (archaic) past of write
  2. (archaic) past participle of write

Usage notes

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  • The form writ survives in standard dialects in the phrase writ large as well as in works aiming for an intentionally poetic or archaic style. It remains common in some dialects (e.g. Scouse).

Derived terms

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Anagrams

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Gothic

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Romanization

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writ

  1. Romanization of 𐍅𐍂𐌹𐍄

Old English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Proto-Germanic *writą, whence also Old High German riz, Old Norse rit.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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writ n (nominative plural writu)

  1. writ

Declension

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Strong a-stem:

singular plural
nominative writ writu
accusative writ writu
genitive writes writa
dative write writum

Derived terms

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