▪ I. writ, n.
(rɪt)
Forms: 1– writ (1 north. u(u)rit, pl. writto, wriot(t)o, 3–4 wriht, 5 wrethe, Sc. wirt, 6 wret), 3–8 writt (4 weritt), 3–7 writte; 3–7 wryt (5 Sc. wryte, wyrt), 4–6 wrytt (6 whrytt), 3–7 wrytte.
[OE. writ (also ᵹewrit i-writ), = ON. and Icel. rit writing (Norw. rit drawing), Goth. writs pen-stroke, OHG. riȥ m., stroke, character (MHG. riȥ, G. ritz m., ritze f.), f. the weak grade of wr{iacu}tan to write. Cf. handwrit, and write n.1]
1. Something written, penned, or recorded in writing; a writing. Now rare.
| a 900, c 950 [implied in sense 1 c]. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 963, [He] fand þa hidde in þa ealde wealle writes þet Headda abb[od] heafde ær ᵹewriton. a 1200 Moral Ode 100 Al ho habbeð in hore write þet we mis⁓duden here. a 1300 Cursor M. 8495 Þis writte wit fele was red and sene, Bot fa it wist quat it wald mene. c 1300 Havelok 2486 Þis writ shal henge bi him þare. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 154 Sir haf here þis writ, & schewe him alle newe. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. 3290 Ful oft sythe þe writ he dide rede. 1488–92 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 87 There was a writ fund..sayand: In hac boxa [etc.]. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 151 b, He couered his mynde craftely, that his writte myght haue some shewe. 1586 Whitney Emblems 143 Th' Emperor..tooke his penne, for to confirme the cause. But all in vayne:..he rente the writte in twaine. 1762 Ld. Talbot in Wilkes' Lett. (1769) I. 10 A person who hath been the object of the writ of any paper. 1891 Walsham How in Life (1898) 323 You have a writ given you, which is like a small cake. 1905 Westm. Gaz. 7 Oct. 4/2 The writs of the insane are generally distinguished by great length. |
| transf. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1974 Ðo iacob saȝ dat sori writ [sc. the bloody coat], He gret. |
† b. A written work, a book; also pl., the writings or works of an author or authors. Obs.
| a 1000 Phœnix 425 Þæs þe us leorneras wordum secgaþ, & writu cyþað. a 1200 Vices & Virtues 35 He wisseð ðes mannes iðangc..ðurh haliȝe writes. c 1230 Hali Meid. 9 And tat schal forðre i þis writ beon openliche ischeawet. Ibid. 39 Hercne his read, þat he i þe frumðe of þis writ readde. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 9655 Her after sone in þis write, Whi he it dede, ȝe schul it wite. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 608 He wald-eȝed was, as þe writt schewys. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 63 Woo to hem þat..writun writtis of vnritfulnes. 1456 Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 15 Sanct Paule in his wryttis, sayand [etc.]. 1508 Kennedy Flyting w. Dunbar 258 How thy for⁓bearis come..the writ makis me war. 1590 Greene Mourn. Garment (1616) C 3 b, The Authors..in their writtes plaine discusse, Fairer was not Tytirvs. 1646 R. Baillie Anabaptism (1647) Epist., In the following writ I point at the danger. 1681 Dryden Abs. & Achit. i. 665 Let Israels foes..rashly judge his Writ Apocryphal. 1687 ― Hind & P. iii. 2 Much malice..Perhaps may censure this mysterious writ. |
c. spec. Sacred writings collectively, the Bible or holy Scriptures, = scripture n. 1; † a single passage in these. Freq. without article (cf. 2), in Holy Writ or Sacred Writ. † Also pl.
| a 900 Rituale Eccl. Dunelm. (Surtees) 79 Cwoeð forðon ðio writ, eᵹhwoelc se ðe ᵹilefeð on hine ne bið sceomiende. c 900– [see Holy Writ]. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxvi. 54 Ah huu forðon biðð ᵹefylled wuriotto? Ibid. Mark xii. 10 Ne writ ðius leornada ᵹie. a 1200 Vices & Virtues 67 Þenc ðat ðe writt seið þat æure bie ðe mildce ouer ðe rihte dome. c 1410 Lantern of Light 132 Alle þoo þat trowen þat helþe may cum of vsing Goddis word þat we clepen writtes. ? c 1490 in Asloan MS. (S.T.S.) I. 57 He vsit euer mercy and euer will ffor the writ sayis In eternum [etc.]. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. iii. 61 His Weapons [are] holy Sawes of sacred Writ. 1685 Waller Div. Love i. 44 Sacred Writ our reason does exceed. 1745 Pococke Descr. East II. i. 60 Cæsarea..is remarkable in sacred writ upon several accounts. |
| transf. 1608 Shakes. Per. ii. Prol. 12 At Tarsus, where each man Thinks all is writ he speken can. |
† d. A written communication; a missive, letter.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 7 Sainte powel..wrot þo a writ and sende hit synfulle men. c 1225 Leg. Kath. 407 He..sende iseelede writes..to alle þe icudde clerkes. a 1300 K. Horn 930 (Camb. MS.), A writ he dude deuise; Aþulf hit dude write. 13.. K. Alis. 4502 (Laud MS.), He..sent to Alisaunder a wrytt. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1774 Delyuerieþ me þe wryt, þat Charles sente to sir Balanne. c 1470 Henry Wallace iii. 425 The knycht Schew him the wryt lord Persie had him sent. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. ii. iii. 264 All too late I bring this fatall writ. 1592 Kyd Sp. Trag. iii. ii. 26 A letter written to Hieronimo... ‘For want of incke receiue this bloudie writ’. |
2. a. Without article (cf. 1 c). That which is written; written record.
| c 1205 Lay. 25005 Nu ȝe habbeoð iherd..wulc word heo sendeð us here into vre londe mid write [c 1275 writ] & mid worde. 13.. K. Alis. 7137 (Laud MS.), Þe kynge..tolde hem by wrytt his damage. c 1375 in Anglia I. 315/507 Ȝut after he [= Adam] gat þretty sones mo,..þus in writ fynde y. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 24 As I in writt fynd. 1622 J. Mayer Treas. Eccles. Expos. 266 Barnabas cured the sick with the touch of euangelicall writ. 1671 Milton P.R. iii. 184 If of my raign Prophetic Writ hath told That it shall never end. 1704 Pope Windsor For. 247 He..Of ancient writ unlocks the learned store. a 1732 T. Boston View Covt. Grace (1734) 266 A Will declared, testified, and signified by Word or Writ. 1844 Kinglake Eothen iv, The mere human surmises and doubts which clash with Homeric writ! |
† b. = writing vbl. n. 9. Also fig. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 8495 Þis writte [on a marble stone] wit fele was red and sene. 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 1136 He bad bulden of marbre A piler..; & þat þei wrouhten a wrytte. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 534/1 Wrytte, vpone a grave stone,..epitaphium. c 1450 Holland Houlate 395 Reid the writ of thar werk, to ȝour witness. 1600 Fairfax Tasso xii. xxxix, This found he grauen in the tender rinde;..he mused on this vncouth writ. 1645 Rutherford Tryal & Tri. Faith 203 There is writ remaining after sin is acted... Writ written with a pen of iron, and diamond. |
c. Written command, order, or authority.
In later use generalized from the senses under 3.
| a 1400 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 360 Ȝif hit ne be pley of lond by wryt. c 1480 Henryson Fox, Wolf, & Husb. 48 Haif ȝe writ or witnes for to schaw? c 1520 Vox populi 328 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 279 Lysens to compownde..By fyne or wrytte of post. 1538 Starkey England i. iv. 117 Touchyng appellatyonys in causys and remouyng by wrytt. 1705 Lond. Gaz. No. 4103/3 Her Majesty hath been..pleased, by Writ, to Call [him] to the House of Lords. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. 148 The convention in 1688..did not assemble without writ. 1808 W. Selwyn Law Nisi Prius II. 1020 [When] the proceedings..have been instituted in the county court by plaint, and not by writ. |
3. A formal writing or paper of any kind; a legal document or instrument. (Passing into next.)
| a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 963, Hu se papa Agatho hit feostnode mid his write. a 1200 in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 203 Ich mid ðusen write ᵹelde and ᵹeue..ðen broðren on Chertseye ðo .x. hyden lond. 1258 Hen. III Proclamation, We senden ȝew þis writ open, iseined wiþ vre seel. c 1300 Havelok 136 He sende writes sone on-on After his erles. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 49 Alle to witnesse wel what þe writ wolde, In what manere that Meede in mariage was i-feffed. 1454 Rolls of Parlt. V. 257/1 Writtes executories under the Kynges grete Seale. 1467 Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 402 [Paid] for a nother wrytte uppon the patent of lyvelode, ij.s. iiij.d. 1538 Wriothesley Chron. (Camden) I. 91 [He] was made a baron by the Kinges wryt. 1562–3 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 231 That he may haif inspectioun of the saidis writtis producit. 1601 Weever Mirr. Mart. D vj, The Bishop..Caus'd writs be set on Rochesters great Church..commaunding me remember To appeare. 1672 Sc. Acts (1820) VIII. 87 The Writers to the signet..are heirby discharged, to forme or write writts of any kind.., unles [etc.]. 1729 T. Innes Crit. Ess. Pref. (1879) 12 A writ under his great seal. 1809 Bawdwen Domesday Bk. 239 Witnessing the King's writ for that purpose. 1892 Tennyson Foresters iv. 48 Lawful King, Whose writ will run thro' all the range of life. |
b. Law. A written command, precept, or formal order issued by a court in the name of the sovereign, state, or other competent legal authority, directing or enjoining the person or persons to whom it is addressed to do or refrain from doing some act specified therein.
| a 1400 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 361 Þe wryt þat me pledeth in þe Citee, by-fore Justyces. c 1450 Godstow Reg. 206 [To] come fully to the strengthe of the courte for the kyngis breef or writte. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vii. (1516) 33/1 A wryt was directed vnto the Mayre and Aldermen, chargynge theym that [etc.]. a 1596 Sir T. More iii. i. 29 Bring them away to execution: The writt is come abooue two houres since. 1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. v. iii. 2104 To be briefe Academico, writts are out for me, to apprehend me. 1659 Hammond On Ps. lxxiii. 4 There are no writts signed for their execution. 1717 Prior Dove xviii, This cruel Writ, wherein you stand Indicted. 1810 W. Selwyn Law Nisi Prius (ed. 2) II. 779 After possession has been given under the writ. 1874 W. P. Lennox Recoll. I. 281 A brother of an M.P., finding sundry writs out against him. |
c. With of (the specific designation).
writ of aiel, certiorari, cessavit, distringas, ease, elegit, entry, error, execution, formedon, habeas corpus, injunction, inquiry, manumission, mesne, mort d'ancestor, non est inventus, privilege, prohibition, ravishment, rebellion, right, summons, venire facias, waste, etc.: see these words.
| a 1400 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 360 Ȝif he is y-pleted by wryt of plee of londe. 1481 Stonor Papers (Camden) II. 134 My wrethe of subpena. 1568–9 in Bolton Stat. Irel. (1621) 325 Any writt of dower. 1643 Caryl Expos. Job I. 967 A writ or patent of protection. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey) s.v., Writ of Assistance,..of Privelege,..of Rebellion. 1833 Act 3–4 Will. IV, c. 27 §36 [lists many writs thereby abolished]. 1865 Act 28 & 29 Vict. c. 104 §47 A Writ of Diem clausit extremum may be issued. |
d. spec. A document issued by the crown conveying a summons to a spiritual or temporal lord to attend Parliament, or directing a sheriff to hold an election of a member or members of Parliament.
| c 1400 Contin. Brut 324 To þe parlement was sompned by wryt..iiij bisshopes & iiij abbotes. 1455 Rolls of Parlt. V. 335 He was elect Abbot..after the seid Parlement somond, and hadde never Writte of Parlement. 1573 Nottingham Rec. IV. 147 The whrytt for reioynyng ye Parlament. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 636 Then was Edward Nevill by the King's Writ called unto the Parliament. 1659 Peynne (title), A Brief Register, Kalendar, and Survey of the several Kinds and Forms of Parliamentary Writs. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 18 Sept. 1688, Writs were issued in order to a Parliament. 1729 Jacob Law Dict. s.v. Parliament, Among the Parliament Writs 14 Eliz. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. III. lx. 292 They issued some writs for new elections. 1861 Buckle Civiliz. (1869) II. 117 In 1264 [the Earl of Leicester] set the first example of issuing writs to cities and boroughs. 1888 J. Williams in Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 697/1 The writ is to be returned by the returning officer..with the name of the member elected endorsed on the writ. |
† 4. = writing vbl. n. 5. Freq. in writ. Obs. (latterly Sc.).
| c 1160 ælfric's Hom. (MS. Bodl. 343) fol. 63 b, Felæ wundræ..þe we her nyllæð on write setten. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 75 Þet rihte ileue setten þe twelue apostles on write. c 1200 Ormin 3282 He badd settenn upp o writt All mann⁓kinn, forr to lokenn [etc.]. a 1300 in E.E.P. (1862) 154 Sleiȝ he was..Þat þis lore put in writte. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 13 To put in wryt a suthfast story. c 1460 Towneley Myst. vii. 106 Loke ye do it well in wrytt. 1585 Jas. I Ess. Poesie (Arb.) 14 When in writ I do theirof reherse. 1651 Calderwood Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.) II. 446 The Bishop of Rosse his memorialls, left in writt. 1684 Sir G. Mackenzie Inst. Law Scot. (1694) 212 A Testament..does require to be in Writ. |
5. attrib. and Comb., as writ-charter; writ-proof adj., writ-reader, writ-reading; † writ-rune, a written character; hence in pl., a document or letter.
| c 1205 Lay. 5750 Þa com þer a mon irnen..þe brohte writ⁓runen. 1781 Reading not preaching ii. 5 To apply this to our writ-reading clergy. Ibid. 7 All that writ-readers can read. 1841 Lever C. O'Malley lxxxviii, Our family have been writ-proof for centuries. 1906 Eng. Hist. Rev. July 506 The writ-charter addressed to the shire-moot. |
▪ II. writ
dial. variant of wart n.
▪ III. writ, v. Anglo-Irish.
(rɪt)
[f. prec.]
trans. To serve (a person) with a writ or summons. Also refl.
| 1888 Pall Mall G. 14 Nov. 8/1 Pat Horty [interjected]..‘I was writted myself, and sold out’. 1894 Somerville & Ross Real Charlotte xxviii, Why don't ye writ her for the money? |