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 ʓewrit 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 wrítan to WRITE. Cf. HANDWRIT, and WRITE sb.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 ʓewriton.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 100. Al ho habbeð in hore write þet we misduden 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. Daus, trans. 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. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 15. Sanct Paule in his wryttis, sayand [etc.].
1508. Kennedy, Flyting w. Dunbar, 258. How thy forbearis 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. Ibid. (1687), Hind & P., III. 2. Much malice … Perhaps may censure this mysterious writ.
c. spec. Sacred writings collectively, the Bible or holy Scriptures, = SCRIPTURE sb. 1; † a single passage in these. Freq. without article (cf. 2), in Holy or Sacred Writ. † Also pl.
a. 900. Rituale Eccl. Dunelm. (Surtees), 79. Cwoeð forðon ðio writ, eʓhwoelc se ðe ʓilefeð on hine ne bið sceomiende.
c. 900–. [see HOLY WRIT].
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 54. Ah huu forðon biðð ʓefylled wuriotto? Ibid., Mark xii. 10. Ne writ ðius leornada ʓie.
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. Shaks., 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. Shaks., 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. Shaks., Titus 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, Eöthen, iv. The mere human surmises and doubts which clash with Homeric writ!
† b. = WRITING vbl. sb. 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 ʓelde and ʓeuce… 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. liij.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. Ld. W. P. Lennox, Recoll., I. 281. A brother of an M.P., finding sundry writs out against him.
c. With of (the specific designation).
c. 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. Prynne (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. sb. 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 mannkinn, 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., -reader, -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 writrunen.
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.
