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