quo warranto Hear it!

quo warranto definition

quo· war·ranto (kwō′ wə ran′tō, -rän′-)

  1. Historical a writ ordering a person to show by what right he exercises an office, franchise, or privilege
  2. a legal proceeding undertaken to recover an office, franchise, or privilege from the person in possession, initiated as upon an information

Etymology: ML, by what warrant < L quo, abl. of qui, who, which + ML warrantus, warrant

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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