writ

¹ American  

[rit] / rɪt /

noun

1. Law.

   1. a formal order under seal, issued in the name of a sovereign, government, court, or other competent authority, enjoining the officer or other person to whom it is issued or addressed to do or refrain from some specified act.

   2. (in early English law) any formal document in letter form, under seal, and in the sovereign's name.

2. something written; a writing.

   sacred writ.

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writ ² American  

[rit] / rɪt /

verb

Archaic.

1. a simple past tense and past participle of write.

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writ ¹ British  

/ rɪt /

noun

1. Official name: claim.  law (formerly) a document under seal, issued in the name of the Crown or a court, commanding the person to whom it is addressed to do or refrain from doing some specified act

2. archaic a piece or body of writing

   Holy Writ

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writ ² British  

/ rɪt /

verb

1. archaic a past tense and past participle of write

2. plain to see; very obvious

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Etymology

Origin of writ

before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old Norse rit writing, Gothic writs letter. See write

Example Sentences

“It was like a play in a game. It wasn’t the game writ large.”

From The Wall Street Journal

On Monday, government chief whip Jonathan Reynolds asked for the writ for the Gorton and Denton constituency to be issued in Parliament.

From BBC

Certainly there is a wry truth to Picasso’s opinion on artistic progress writ large, yet Ms. Chan is also persuasive in saying that new creativity springs from the same ancient wellspring Picasso was talking about.

From The Wall Street Journal

A writ of mandate is a court order that attempts to correct alleged overreach or abuse of discretion by a government official or agency.

From Los Angeles Times

The proof of Akangbe Ogun's pudding, as it were, is writ large in the monumental sculptures, structures in fantastical formations that attest to his mastery of his art, on view all over the Osun Grove.

From BBC

Related Words

• summons