writ

Etymology

From Middle English writ, from Old English writ and ġewrit (“writing”), from Proto-Germanic *writą (“fissure, writing”), from Proto-Indo-European *wrey-, *wrī- (“to scratch, carve, ingrave”). Cognate with Scots writ (“writ, writing, handwriting”), Icelandic rit (“writing, writ, literary work, publication”).

noun

1. (law) A written order, issued by a court, ordering someone to do (or stop doing) something.
2. Authority, power to enforce compliance.
   We can't let them take advantage of the fact that there are so many areas of the world where no one's writ runs. 2009, Stephen Gale et al., The War on Terrorism: 21st-Century Perspectives, Transaction Publishers, page 30
   Within Lololand, of course, no Chinese writ runs, no Chinese magistrate holds sway, and the people, more or less divided among themselves, are under the government of their tribal chiefs. 1913, Elizabeth Kimball Kendall, A Wayfarer in China
3. (archaic) That which is written; writing.
4. A written order, issued by the British House of Commons, ordering a parliamentary by-election, or an order, issued by the Lord Chancellor, ordering a general election, or one issued by the House of Lords summoning Peers to the Chamber.

verb

1. (archaic) past of write
2. (archaic) past participle of write
   But the film is a saddening bore 'Cause I wrote it ten times or more It's about to be writ again 1971, “Life on Mars?”, performed by David Bowie