latitat

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an old common-law writ summoning a defendant presumed to be in hiding

   The court issued a latitat against the merchant who had fled his creditors.

From Latin latitat ('he lurks, he lies hidden'), third person singular of latitare ('to lie hidden'), a frequentative of latere ('to lie hidden'); the writ was so named from its opening words.

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