mandamus

[ man-dey-muhs ]

noun,plural man·da·mus·es.
  1. 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)
  1. to intimidate or serve with such writ.

Origin of mandamus

1
From the Latin word mandāmus we command

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British Dictionary definitions for mandamus

mandamus

/ (mænˈdeɪməs) /


nounplural -muses
  1. 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

Origin of mandamus

1
C16: Latin, literally: we command, from mandāre to command

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012