writ
/rɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [rˈɪt] /rɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [rˈɪt] /ˈrit How to pronounce writ (audio)/ (ame, mw)
writ — noun
- writsingular
- writsplural
1. a formal written command from a judge or law court, telling someone that they mu
a formal written command from a judge or law court, telling someone that they must be part of legal proceedings, attend a hearing, or act in a way the law demands.
The judge issued a writ summoning the company's director to court next week.
collocation: issue a writ
A bailiff served the writ at dawn, handing it to the surprised office manager.
collocation: serve a writ
Mei read the writ of summons and called her lawyer immediately.
Without a signed writ from the court, the officials could not seize the property.
The landlord challenged the writ, arguing that the repairs had been done on time.
- court order
a more general term for any directive from a court; broader than a writ
- summons
specifically orders someone to appear in court; a type of writ
- warrant
authorizes arrest or search; narrower in scope than a writ
用法筆記
Frequently paired with verbs like 'issue', 'serve', or 'obtain'. The specific type of writ is often named after a Latin legal phrase, such as 'writ of habeas corpus' or 'writ of certiorari'.
常見錯誤
2. the power or right that a government, ruler, or institution has to make and enfo
the power or right that a government, ruler, or institution has to make and enforce laws within a particular area.
The newly elected government extended its writ across the entire region.
collocation: extend one's writ
Local chiefs questioned whether the king's writ still applied to their remote villages.
possessive: [ruler]'s writ
The central bank's writ covers all financial institutions operating in the country.
After the coup, the general's writ ran only as far as the capital city.
The United Nations tried to enforce its writ in the disputed border territory.
- authority
more general term; lacks the formal legal tone of 'writ'
- jurisdiction
focuses on the geographical or legal scope of power
- sovereignty
supreme power within a territory; stronger and more absolute than 'writ'
用法筆記
Frequently found in fixed expressions such as '[someone]'s writ runs' (meaning their authority is effective) and 'extend/enforce one's writ'. Often paired with possessive pronouns or 'over'.
常見錯誤
writ — verb
- writpresent simple I / you / we / they
- writs3rd person singular
- writting-ing form
- writtedpast simple
1. an early form of the past participle of 'write', used in older English literatur
an early form of the past participle of 'write', used in older English literature, religious texts, and historical documents.
In Shakespeare's play, the character declares 'I have writ my letter and sealed it.'
archaic usage in literary text
The scribe had writ the king's decree on a long parchment scroll.
'Behold, I have writ unto you a vision of things to come,' said the prophet.
The poet had writ verses of such beauty that they were read for centuries.
On her wedding day, she had writ her name in the old church register.
- written
the modern standard form; use this instead of 'writ' in contemporary English
用法筆記
Considered archaic in modern English; the standard past participle is 'written'. Learners should recognize 'writ' in historical or literary texts but use 'written' in contemporary speech and writing.