English edit

 
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Etymology edit

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 edit

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

Noun edit

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 edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

References edit

Verb edit

writ

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

Usage notes edit

  • 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 edit

Anagrams edit

Gothic edit

Romanization edit

writ

  1. Romanization of 𐍅𐍂𐌹𐍄

Old English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

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

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

writ n (nominative plural writu)

  1. writ

Declension edit

Derived terms edit