-kävə̇t, -kāv- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, he has signified (the first word in the writ), 3d per. singular perfect indicative of significare
1.
a. : a bishop's certificate that a person has been in a state of excommunication for 40 days
b. : a resulting chancery writ ordering the recalcitrant's imprisonment until submission to the church
2. : a writ commanding a stay of a suit because of plaintiff's excommunication