Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
mandamus [man-dey-muh s]Law. ExamplesWord Origin noun, plural man·da·mus·es.
- a writ from a superior court to an inferior court or to an officer, corporation, etc., commanding that a specified thing be done.
verb (used with object)
- to intimidate or serve with such writ.
Origin of mandamus From the Latin word mandāmus we command Examples from the Web for mandamus Historical Examples of mandamus
They will move, therefore, in the Queen’s Bench, for a mandamus—’
Charles Lever
They rejected her application, whereupon she applied for a mandamus.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV
Various
Then they filed a mandamus to compel it to do so, and brought the matter into the courts.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV
Various
And, by the way, isn’t there such a writ as a mandamus, or a duces tecum?
Edgar Saltus
But, in 1774, he was an addressor of Hutchinson, and was appointed a mandamus councillor.
Various
British Dictionary definitions for mandamus mandamus noun plural -muses
- law formerly a writ from, now an order of, a superior court commanding an inferior tribunal, public official, corporation, etc, to carry out a public duty
Word Origin for mandamus C16: Latin, literally: we command, from mandāre to command Word Origin and History for mandamus n.
1530s, “writ from a superior court to an inferior one, specifying that something be done,” (late 14c. in Anglo-French), from Latin, literally “we order,” first person plural present indicative of mandare “to order” (see mandate (n.)).