Writ and Command

noun

• Law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer. (.
  • synonyms: judicial writ

• (obs.) 3d pers. sing. pres. of Write, for writeth.
• (Archaicimp.&p.p.) of Write.
• imp. & p. p. of Write.
• (n.) That which is written; writing; scripture; -- applied especially to the Scriptures or the books of the Old and New testaments; as, sacred writ.
• (n.) An instrument in writing, under seal, in an epistolary form, issued from the proper authority, commanding the performance or nonperformance of some act by the person to whom it is directed; as, a writ of entry, of error, of execution, of injunction, of mandamus, of return, of summons, and the like.

Writ is an order of the court enforcing the law or its separate orders by directing that some act be performed, as opposed to an order of judgment declaring a debt (as in a case for damages in tort or breach of contract) or enjoining some future action (as in a case to enforce the terms of an agreement or to prevent one person from causing or threatening harm to another). There were in the common law many different types of writs. A few still in use are listed hereinafter. Writs are obtained by motions or petitions to a court having jurisdiction.

noun

• An authoritative direction or instruction to do something.
  • synonyms: bid, bidding, dictation
• A military unit or region under the control of a single officer.
• The power or authority to command.
  • usage: "an admiral in command"
• Availability for use.
  • usage: "the materials at the command of the potters grew"
• A position of highest authority.
  • usage: "the corporation has just undergone a change in command"
• Great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity.
  • usage: "a good command of French"
  • synonyms: control, mastery
• Computer science. ( a line of code written as part of a computer program)
  • synonyms: instruction, statement, program line

verb

• Be in command of.
  • usage: "The general commanded a huge army"
• Make someone do something.
  • synonyms: require
• Demand as one's due.
  • usage: "This speaker commands a high fee"; "The author commands a fair hearing from his readers"
• Look down on.
  • usage: "The villa dominates the town"
  • synonyms: dominate, overlook, overtop
• Exercise authoritative control or power over.
  • usage: "control the budget"; "Command the military forces"
  • synonyms: control

• (v.t.) To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to have at one's disposal; to lead.
• (v.i.) To have or to exercise direct authority; to govern; to sway; to influence; to give an order or orders.
• (v.t.) To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to charge.
• (n.) A body of troops or any naval or military force or post or the whole territory under the authority or control of a particular officer.
• (n.) An authoritative order requiring obedience; a mandate; an injunction.
• (n.) Authority; power or right of control; leadership; as, the forces under his command.
• (v.t.) To direct to come; to bestow.
• (v.t.) To have power or influence of the nature of authority over; to obtain as if by ordering; to receive as a due; to challenge; to claim; as, justice commands the respect and affections of the people; the best goods command the best price.
• (n.) The possession or exercise of authority.
• (n.) Power to dominate, command or overlook by means of position; scope of vision; survey.
• (n.) Control; power over something; sway; influence; as, to have command over one's temper or voice; the fort has command of the bridge.
• (v.t.) To have within a sphere of control, influence, access or vision; to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook.
• (v.i.) To have a view, as from a superior position.

(DoD) The authority that a commander in the armed forces lawfully exercises over subordinates by virtue of rank or assignment. Command includes the authority and responsibility for effectively using available resources and for planning the employment of, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling military forces for the accomplishment of assigned missions. It also includes responsibility for health, welfare, morale, and discipline of assigned personnel.
(DoD) An order given by a commander; that is, the will of the commander expressed for the purpose of bringing about a particular action.
(DoD) A unit or units, an organization, or an area under the command of one individual. Also called CMD. See also area command; combatant command; combatant command (command authority).