WRIT

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old English wrītan to ~e Date: before 12th century something ~ten ; ~ing , 2. a formal ~ten document, an order or mandatory process in ~ing issued in the name of the sovereign or of a court or judicial officer commanding the person to whom it is directed to perform or refrain from performing an act specified therein , the power and authority of the issuer of such a ~ten order