quo warranto
[ kwoh waw-ran-toh, wo- ]
/ kwoʊ wɔˈræn toʊ, wɒ- /
noun Law.
(formerly, in England) a writ calling upon a person to show by what authority he or she claims an office, franchise, or liberty.
(in England and the U.S.) a trial, hearing, or other legal proceeding initiated to determine by what authority one has an office, franchise, or liberty.
the pleading initiating such a proceeding.
Nearby words
qungur, quo, quo animo?, quo jure?, quo vadis, quo warranto, quoad hoc, quod, quod erat demonstrandum, quod erat faciendum, quod vide
Origin of quo warranto
1250–1300; Middle English < Medieval Latin quō warrantō by what warrant
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for quo warranto
quo warranto
/ (ˈkwəʊ wɒˈræntəʊ) /
noun
law a proceeding initiated to determine or (formerly) a writ demanding by what authority a person claims an office, franchise, or privilege
Word Origin for quo warranto
from Medieval Latin: by what warrant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for quo warranto
quo warranto
Medieval Latin, literally "by what warrant," from quo "from, with, or by whom or what?," ablative of interrogative pronoun quis "who?" (see who).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper