mittimus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Extremely Rare)Formal / Archaic / Technical (Legal)
Quick answer
What does “mittimus” mean?
A warrant directing a jailer to hold a prisoner in custody.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A warrant directing a jailer to hold a prisoner in custody; a formal document ordering imprisonment.
Historically, a writ or warrant from a court or magistrate authorizing the detention or imprisonment of a person, often issued after a conviction or to commit a person for trial. It can also refer, in some contexts, to a dismissal or discharge from a position, though this is archaic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally archaic and rare in both varieties, with its use confined to historical legal texts. No significant operational difference exists.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of antique legal formalism. Might be used deliberately for stylistic effect in historical fiction or to emphasise the gravity/permanence of an order.
Frequency
Effectively zero in everyday language. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical legal documents due to the longer unbroken history of common law.
Grammar
How to Use “mittimus” in a Sentence
[Court/ Judge] issued a mittimus for [prisoner/ defendant].The mittimus committed him to [place of detention].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mittimus” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The judge does not 'mittimus' someone; he issues a mittimus.
American English
- The term is not used as a verb in modern American legal practice.
adverb
British English
- No adverbial form exists.
American English
- No adverbial form exists.
adjective
British English
- The mittimus document was filed with the clerk.
American English
- The mittimus order was executed by the sheriff.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical or legal history papers discussing judicial processes.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
The primary context is historical/formal legal terminology. May appear in transcriptions of old court records.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mittimus”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mittimus”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mittimus”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They mittimused him').
- Using it in a modern context where 'warrant' or 'court order' would be appropriate.
- Misspelling as 'mittimus' (double t) or 'mitimus'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. Its functions have been subsumed by modern terms like 'commitment order' or 'warrant of commitment'. It is an archaic legal term.
It comes directly from Latin, meaning 'we send'. It was the first word of such writs in Medieval Latin ('mittimus N. ad gaolam' = 'we send N. to jail').
Historically, it could also refer to a writ transferring records from one court to another. In an even more archaic sense, it could mean a dismissal from office, but this is obsolete.
No, 'mittimus' is solely a noun in English. While the Latin source is a verb form, English does not productively use it as a verb.
A warrant directing a jailer to hold a prisoner in custody.
Mittimus is usually formal / archaic / technical (legal) in register.
Mittimus: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪtɪməs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪdɪməs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MITTimus' sounds like 'adMIT to US' (the prison). The court issues a mittimus to admit someone to us (the state's custody).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE LAW IS A SENDER (The court 'sends' a person to jail via this document).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'mittimus'?