writ

in a sentence

grouped by contextual meaning

She had a writ of habeas corpus, but the right was temporarily suspended in the troubled country.

Stevenson, I'm calling to let you know that the Court has just entered an order in Case No. 89-5395; the motion for a stay of execution and petition for writ of certiorari have been denied.  (source) Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy, 2014

I'll clap a writ on you!  (source) Arthur Miller, The Crucible, 1953

His part ownership of Emma's had drawn all of his creditors out of the woodwork, and they had pounced on the little bar with writs and lawsuits in the manner of depositors staging a run on a failing bank.†  (source) John Berendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, 1994

Some contracts are writ in ink, and some in blood.  (source) George R. R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons, 2011

If all the writs of mechanic's lien that have been levied on this structure were pasted on these three walls, the block would look like a mammoth circus billboard.†  (source) Erik Larson, The Devil in the White City, 2003

When a writ of error is brought from an inferior to a superior court of law in New York, does the latter have jurisdiction of the fact as well as the law?  (source) James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, & John Jay, The Federalist Papers -- Modern English Edition 2, 2008

With these arguments, Jenkins and Bingham succeeded in carrying the case three times to the United States Supreme Court-the Big Boy, as many litigating prisoners refer to it-but on each occasion the Court, which never comments on its decisions in such instances, denied the appeals by refusing to grant the writs of certiorari that would have entitled the appellants to a full hearing before the Court.†  (source) Truman Capote, In Cold Blood, 1966

"I must admit, Lewis, that it is highly unlikely that the judge will issue a writ for the blacks," Baldwin said.  (source) Alexs Pate, Amistad, 1997

Returning to the bar, drawing writs, arguing causes, taking clerks.†  (source) David McCullough, John Adams, 2002

Section 9, clause 2: "The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it."  (source) James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, & John Jay, The Federalist Papers -- Modern English Edition 2, 2008

You know people send mother writs, don't you, uncle?†  (source) D. H. Lawrence, The Rocking-Horse Winner, 1926

The proposed Constitution establishes the writ of habeas corpus, prohibits ex-post-facto laws and TITLES OF NOBILITY, a provision not in the New York constitution.  (source) James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, & John Jay, The Federalist Papers -- Modern English Edition 2, 2008

The city’s passion for coffee was writ large in the number of cafes on every street corner.

Her niceness is writ large, it is her defining quality and she needs it acknowledged, often, daily almost, which can be tiring.  (source) Paula Hawkins, The Girl on the Train, 2015

I know, I know, it's nothing more than Archimedes' Mirror writ large.  (source) John Ringo, Live Free or Die, 2010

It is all a game to them still, a tourney writ large, and all they see is the chance for glory and honor and spoils.†  (source) George R. R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, 1999

Striding across the Brown campus, clicking the concrete with high heels that show off her celebrated legs, Bernadine expounds about events and issues writ large— just like when she was in collegedescribing a conference on violence against women she just attended that showed her "how we can't prosecute violent men with Mark Fuhrmans as our allies ...how the opponents of racism and the opponents of violence against women are natural allies in the struggle.†  (source) Ron Suskind, A Hope in the Unseen, 1998

Sometimes bad luck is writ large and plain.†  (source) Don DeLillo, Underworld, 1997

You will forgive an old friend for not expressing any great surprise, as the matter was writ large enough between the lines of your letters, and could easily be divined, without any great perspicacity on the reader's part.†  (source) Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace, 1996

The pilot, an amiable flight lieutenant wearing a handlebar mustache, watched the load going aboard with honest bewilderment writ large across his brow.†  (source) Farley Mowat, Never Cry Wolf, 1963

No name was provided at the bottom of the elaborate frame, only a single-word inscription writ large in Latin, "VIR," meaning "man of character."†  (source) David McCullough, John Adams, 2002

No: though his name was writ large on placards, though they praised him for the great work God worked through him, and though they came, day and night, before him to the altar, there was no word in the Book for him.†  (source) James Baldwin, Go Tell It on the Mountain, 1952

He sat with his head sunk on his breast and said "Yes," without raising his eyes, as if afraid to see writ large on the clear sky of the offing the reproach of his romantic conscience.†  (source) Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim, 1900

Niceness writ large.  (source) Paula Hawkins, The Girl on the Train, 2015

Presenteeism writ large.  (source) Jojo Moyes, Me Before You, 2012

She has great knowledge of holy writ.

Together, his two books were called the Hive-Queen and the Hegemon, and they were holy writ.  (source) Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game, 1977

Holy writ is holy, Excellency.  (source) Robert Bolt, A Man for All Seasons, 1960

Since a Suggestion from the Master is a Command not unlike Holy Writ, I shall digress and comply at the same Time.†  (source) John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley, 1962

If It's Optic White, It's the Right White,' " he quoted with an upraised finger, like a preacher quoting holy writ.†  (source) Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man, 1952

To legions of Americans these are not stupid superstitions or fetishes at all, but rules close to holy writ.†  (source) Robert MacNeil and William Crane, Do You Speak American?, 2005

A generation of orientalists has recently thrown open to us the sacred writings of the East, as well as the pre-Hebrew sources of our own Holy Writ.†  (source) Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, 1949

In the mixture there was beauty—a good proportion—and pimple-insolence, and parricide faces, gum-chew innocence, labor fodder and secretarial forces, Danish stability, Dago inspiration, catarrh-hampered mathematical genius; there were waxed-eared shovelers' children, sex-promising businessmen's daughters—an immense sampling of a tremendous host, the multitudes of holy writ, begotten by West-moving, factor-shoved parents.†  (source) Saul Bellow, The Adventures of Augie March, 1949

Is it because they somewhat savor of Holy Writ in its phrase "mysteries of iniquity"?†  (source) Herman Melville, Billy Budd, 1924

Yet may we shelter ourselves in the infinite goodness of Providence, which would not forever punish the innocent beyond that third or fourth generation which is threatened in Holy Writ.†  (source) Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles, 1902

Nor have I so read or interpreted Holy Writ, as to understand that the disclosure of human thoughts and deeds, then to be made, is intended as a part of the retribution.†  (source) Nathanial Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, 1850

Loud men called his subdued tone an undertone, and sometimes implied that it was inconsistent with openness; though there seems to be no reason why a loud man should not be given to concealment of anything except his own voice, unless it can be shown that Holy Writ has placed the seat of candor in the lungs.†  (source) George Eliot, Middlemarch, 1872

"That proves," returned the abbe, "that you are like those of Holy Writ, who having ears hear not, and having eyes see not."†  (source) Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo, 1846

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, moves on:  (source) Omar Khayyam, Rubaiyat

Mr. Barnett said he had all them things Mr. Tatum ordered writ down and when Mr. Tatum asked to see that list of his, Mr. Barnett says, 'You callin' me a liar, boy?'  (source) Mildred D. Taylor, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, 1976

So, as Marina began stitching the Count's pants—the laying of locomotive tracks writ small, if you will—he described the Assembly and all his various impressions.  (source) Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow, 2016

Lemme just get my check writ out.  (source) Kathryn Stockett, The Help, 2009

87:6 The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.†  (source) The Bible, Old Testament, 1611

The law, based upon the Bible, and the Bible, writ by Almighty God, forbid the practice of witchcraft, and describe death as the penalty thereof.  (source) Arthur Miller, The Crucible, 1953

In like manner, when question is of the Meaning of written Lawes, he is not the Interpreter of them, that writeth a Commentary upon them.†  (source) Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, 1651

I writ it down—look.  (source) Terry Pratchett, Nation, 2008

inherit your property* This sentence, and a hundred times worse, Writeth this man, there God his bones curse.†  (source) Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, 1350

What have you writ down so far?  (source) Sid Fleischman, The Whipping Boy, 1986

87:6 The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.†  (source) The Bible, Psalms, 1611

The Moving Finger writes, and, having writ, Moves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all your Tears blot out a Word of it.†  (source) Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin, 2000

This Parson him answered all at ones; "Thou gettest fable none y-told for me, For Paul, that writeth unto Timothy, Reproveth them that *weive soothfastness,* *forsake truth* And telle fables, and such wretchedness.†  (source) Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, 1350