mandamus etymology

Etymology and Origin

The term "mandamus" is derived from Medieval Latin, specifically from the phrase "mandamus eum" or "we command him/her." It is ultimately derived from the Latin root verb "mandare," meaning "to command" or "to order."

Meaning

In legal contexts, mandamus refers to a type of court order that compels a public official or government entity to perform a specific duty or act. It is a writ commanding a specific action to be taken. Mandamus orders are typically issued when other legal remedies are unavailable or insufficient to resolve the issue at hand.

Purpose

The purpose of a mandamus is to enforce an existing legal right or duty. It is not intended to grant new rights or to change the underlying law. Mandamus orders are often used to ensure that public officials fulfill their legal obligations, resolve administrative disputes, or compel government agencies to take action on pending matters.

Characteristics

• Mandamus is a prerogative writ, meaning it is issued by the court's own authority rather than based on a statute.
• It is a discretionary remedy, meaning the court has the power to decide whether or not to grant it.
• Mandamus orders are specific and direct, requiring the respondent to perform a particular act.
• Mandamus is typically only available when there is a clear legal duty on the respondent to act and no other adequate legal remedy exists.

Significance

Mandamus is a powerful legal tool that can be used to protect individual rights, enforce the law, and ensure that government officials fulfill their responsibilities. It plays an important role in ensuring the proper functioning of government and the accountability of public entities.

mandamus relate terms

• mandate

  Etymology Middle English mandat Old French mandat Latin mandātum command order

• amanuensis

  Etymology Latin amanuensis writer secretary From Latin manus hand Meaning

• command

  Etymology The word command comes from the Old French word commander which is derive

• commando

  Etymology The word commando derives from the Afrikaans word kommando which refers to

• commend

  Etymology from Middle English comenden from Old English cōmendan from Proto Germanic

• countermand

  Etymology The word countermand is derived from two Latin words contra against ma

• demand

  Etymology The word demand comes from the Old French word demander meaning to ask f

• Edmund

  Etymology Old English Eadmund from the elements ead prosperity happiness mund

• emancipate

  Etymology Latin emancipare to release a child from parental authority Latin root

• legerdemain

  Etymology French léger de main light of hand Latin levis light manus han

• maintain

  Etymology Derived from the Old French word maintenir which means to hold keep or

• manacle

  Etymology The word manacle comes from the Late Latin word manacula meaning handcuff

• manage

  Etymology Definition The study of the origin and history of words Origin Greek et

• manciple

  Etymology Origin Middle English 14th century from Middle French manacepier mancipe

• mandamus

  Etymology and Origin The term mandamus is derived from Medieval Latin specifically fro

• mandate

  Etymology Middle English mandat Old French mandat Latin mandātum command order

• manege

  Etymology The word manege has its origins in the French word manège which itself co

• maneuver

  Etymology The word maneuver comes from the French word manœuvre which in turn deri

• manicure

  Etymology The word manicure originates from two Latin words Manus meaning hand Cu

• manipulation

  Etymology The word manipulation originates from the Latin word manipulus which means

• manque

  Etymology The word manque is borrowed from French where it means lacking or imperf

• mansuetude

  Etymology The word mansuetude traces its roots back to the Latin term mansuetus which

• manual

  Etymology Latin manualis Medieval Latin manual Old French manuel Middle Englis

• manubrium

  Etymology Latin manubrium handle or grip Derived from manus hand and brach

• manufacture

  Etymology The word manufacture comes from the Latin word manu factus which literall

• manumission

  Etymology from Latin manumissio setting free of a slave from manus hand and mit

• manumit

  Etymology The word manumit comes from the Latin word manumittere which means to rel

• manure

  Etymology The word manure originates from the Old French word manuer which is deriv

• manuscript

  Etymology The word manuscript derives from the Latin phrase manu scriptus which mea

• mastiff

  Etymology Mastiff Derived from the Old English word mastif meaning large dog

• mortmain

  Etymology Mort From Latin mort or mortis meaning death or dead person Main F

• Raymond

  Etymology Old High German Ratmund Latin Raymond Meaning Protector of the go

• recommend

  Recommend Etymology From the Old French recommander to commend recommend itself f

• remand

  Etymology Middle English remanden from Anglo Norman French re back mander sen

• Sigismund

  Etymology Sigismund comes from the Germanic name Sigismund Siegmund which is composed

• category

  Etymology The word category derives from the Ancient Greek word kategoria meaning

• hypothesis

  Etymology Derived from Ancient Greek hypothesis ὑπόθεσις meaning a placi

• scissors

  Etymology The word scissors is derived from the Old French word ciseor pair of scis

• chaos

  Etymology Greek χάος khaos meaning yawning void abyss or gap Meaning

• providence

  Etymology The word providence comes from the Latin word providentia which means fo

• need

  Etymology The word etymology is derived from the Greek words étymon meaning true m

• contingent

  Etymology Latin dependere to hang down be dependent Meaning 1 Dependent or Con

• anxiety

  Etymology The word anxiety comes from the Latin word anxietas which means anxiety

• absorb

  Etymology The word absorb comes from the Latin word absorbere which means to suck

• dandy

  Etymology The word dandy is derived from the Scottish dander meaning to strut abou