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Dictum vs Writ - What's the difference?

dictum | writ | Related terms |

Dictum is a related term of writ.


As nouns the difference between dictum and writ

is that dictum is an authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; a maxim, an apothegm while writ is (legal) a written order, issued by a court, ordering someone to do (or stop doing) something.

As a verb writ is

(dated|nonstandard).

dictum

English

(wikipedia dictum)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; a maxim, an apothegm.
  • * 1949 , Bruce Kiskaddon, George R. Stewart, (Earth Abides)
    • ...a dictum which he had heard an economics professor once propound...
  • A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it.
  • The report of a judgment made by one of the judges who has given it.
  • An arbitrament or award.
    • ----

    writ

    English

    (wikipedia writ)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (legal) A written order, issued by a court, ordering someone to do (or stop doing) something.
  • authority, power to enforce compliance
  • * '>citation
    • 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.
  • (obsolete) that which is written; writing
  • * Spenser
    • Then to his hands that writ he did betake, / Which he disclosing read, thus as the paper spake.
  • * Knolles
    • Babylon, so much spoken of in Holy Writ

    Derived terms

    * drop the writ * Holy Writ * writ of habeas corpus

    References

    * Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia (Webster)

    Verb

    (head)
  • (dated, nonstandard)
    • (Dryden)
  • * (Omar Khayyam) (in translation)
    • The moving finger writes, and having writ , not all your piety or wit can lure it back to cancel half a line

    Usage notes

    * The form writ'' survives in standard dialects only in the phrase ''writ large , though it remains common in some dialects (e.g. Scouse).

    Related terms

    * writ large ----