quo warranto
/ˌkwoʊ wəˈræntoʊ/
noun
Origin
Latin
quo warranto — by what warrant
Overview
Meaning Now
- A legal writ used to challenge a person's right to hold a public office or a corporate franchise, requiring the individual to show by what authority they hold it.
Literal older meaning
by what warrant
Language path
Latin → Anglo-Norman → English
Earliest form
quo warranto
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The Writ of Quo Warranto was a critical instrument in medieval England, famously employed by King Edward I to inspect the legal basis of feudal lords' claims to jurisdictional privileges. In modern legal systems, it continues to serve as a remedy against the usurpation of public office.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
quo warranto
“by what warrant”
Used in interrogative legal questioning.
- 13th century England
quo warranto
“a writ requiring a person to show authority for holding office”
Formalized under the Statute of Quo Warranto (1290) during the reign of Edward I.
- Modern English
quo warranto
“the legal procedure to challenge entitlement to office”
Connections
Word parts
quo
root
by what
warranto
root
warrant or authority
Related across languages
Old French
gwarant
guarantor or warrant
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Related to quo warranto
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.