n.1 a Roman emperor's written reply to an appeal for guidance, esp. on a legal point.
2 RC Ch. the Pope's decision on a question of doctrine or papal law.
3 an official edict or announcement.
4 a the act or an instance of rewriting. b the thing rewritten.
Etymology: L rescriptum, neut. past part. of rescribere rescript- (as RE-, scribere write)