significavit

noun

sig·​nif·​i·​ca·​vit

-kävə̇t,

-kāv-

plural -s

1

a

: a bishop's certificate that a person has been in a state of excommunication for 40 days

b

: a resulting chancery writ ordering the recalcitrant's imprisonment until submission to the church

2

: a writ commanding a stay of a suit because of plaintiff's excommunication

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, he has signified (the first word in the writ), 3d person singular perfect indicative of significare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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