Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Writ
1.
That which is written; writing; scripture; – applied especially to the Scriptures, or the books of the Old and New testaments;
“Though in Holy Writ not named.” as, sacred
. writ
Milton.
Then to his hands that
Which he disclosing read, thus as the paper spake.
writ
he did betake,Which he disclosing read, thus as the paper spake.
Spenser.
Babylon, so much spoken of in Holy
Writ
. Knolles.
2.
(Law)
An instrument in writing, under seal, in an epistolary form, issued from the proper authority, commanding the performance or nonperformance of some act by the person to whom it is directed;
as, a
. writ
of entry, of error, of execution, of injunction, of mandamus, of return, of summons, and the like☞ Writs are usually witnessed, or tested, in the name of the chief justice or principal judge of the court out of which they are issued; and those directed to a sheriff, or other ministerial officer, require him to return them on a day specified. In former English law and practice, writs in civil cases were either original or judicial; the former were issued out of the Court of Chancery, under the great seal, for the summoning of a defendant to appear, and were granted before the suit began and in order to begin the same; the latter were issued out of the court where the original was returned, after the suit was begun and during the pendency of it. Tomlins. Brande. Encyc. Brit. The term writ is supposed by Mr. Reeves to have been derived from the fact of these formulae having always been expressed in writing, being, in this respect, distinguished from the other proceedings in the ancient action, which were conducted orally.
Webster 1828 Edition
Writ
WRIT
,Noun.
1.
That which is written. In this sense, writ is particularly applied to the Scriptures, or books of the Old Testament and New Testament; as holy writ; sacred writ.2.
In law, precept issued from the proper authority to the sheriff, his deputy or other subordinate officer, commanding him to perform some act, as to summon a defendant into court to answer, and the like.In England, writs are issued from some court under seal. In some of the United States, writs are issued by any single judge or justice of the peace, in the name and by the authority of the senate.
In some of the United States, the writ in a civil suit, contains both the summons and the plaintiffs declaration or cause of action set forth at large, and a writ is either a summons or an attachment.
Writs are original or judicial. An original writ, in England, is issued from the high court of chancery. A judicial writ is issued by order of a court upon a special occasion, during the pendency of the suit.
Writs are of various kinds; as writs of assize; writs of capias; writs of distringas, &c.
3.
A legal instrument.