1. A judge’s written order to a court clerk explaining how to dispose of a case.
2. An appellate court’s written decision, usu. unsigned, that is sent down to the trial court. [Cases: Appeal and Error 1196, 1207; Criminal Law 1192; Federal Courts 949. C.J.S. Appeal and Error §§ 978, 994.]
3. A Roman emperor’s or a Pope’s written answer to a legal inquiry or petition. Cf. PRECES. — Also termed (when the reply is to a private citizen) annotation; subnotation; subscription; (when the reply is to an official body) epistle.
4. A duplicate or counterpart; a rewriting.
