writ

¹

[ rit ]

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.

writ

²

[ rit ]

verb

, Archaic.

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

writ

¹

/ rɪt /

noun

1. 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 Official nameclaim
2. archaic.
   a piece or body of writing

   Holy Writ

writ

²

/ rɪt /

verb

1. See write
   archaic.
   a past tense and past participle of write
2. writ large
   writ large plain to see; very obvious

Word History and Origins

Origin of writ¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of writ¹

Old English; related to Old Norse rit, Gothic writs stroke, Old High German riz (German Riss a tear). See write

Example Sentences

What Republicans really stand forThis is important, because it gets at the actual argument, writ large, that Republicans are making right now.

From Washington Post

Gomitaku writ large, the print towers over the show to exemplify trash that’s typically much smaller or even, in the case of microplastics, unseeable with the naked eye.

From Washington Post

The lawsuit seeks a writ of mandamus — a court order that would require OSHA to fulfill its duties.

From Washington Post

We also asked pollsters what, if anything, they were still worried about in 2020, regarding either their own polls or the polling industry writ large.

From FiveThirtyEight

A real problem for the polling industry writ large was the underrepresentation of voters with little or no college education.

From FiveThirtyEight

Writ in its history are all the ills and passions of the past century.

From The Daily Beast

If only women are getting fired, the reason is not holy writ.

From The Daily Beast

McCain said additional economic sanctions against Russia writ large were also called for.

From The Daily Beast

Baghdadi is unlikely to comply, and Zawahiri has long been unable to enforce his writ on the Iraqi branch of al Qaeda.

From The Daily Beast

This is the issue of assimilation writ in flashing neon lights.

From The Daily Beast

I've got a writ here, Baptiste, and will be glad to have you tell me where this stuff of yours is so I can go and get it.

From Project Gutenberg

Here, ma'am, is the writ of subpœny 't calls for her to be a witness in a case of assault an' battery.

From Project Gutenberg

So St. Luke writ the gospel having diligently attained to all things.

From Project Gutenberg

The Puritans attacked the drama as contrary to Holy Writ, as destructive of religion, and as a menace to public morality.

From Project Gutenberg

In his case, as in the case of Spencer Cowper, an attempt was made to obtain a writ of appeal.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• summons