man·da·mus (m n-d  m s) Law n. A writ issued by a superior court ordering a public official or body or a lower court to perform a specified duty. tr.v. man·da·mused, man·da·mus·ing, man·da·mus·es To serve or compel with such a writ. [Latin mand mus, we order (used in such a writ), first person pl. present tense of mandre, to order; see man-2 in Indo-European roots.] |
mandamus [mænˈdeɪməs]
n pl -muses
(Law) 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
[Latin, literally: we command, from mandāre to command]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  mandamus - an extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion; used only when all other judicial remedies failjudicial writ, writ - (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" |
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