Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CA'PI-AS, n. [L. capio, to take.]

In law, a writ of two sorts; one before judgment, called a capias ad respondendum, where an original is issued, to take the defendant, and make him answer to the plaintif: the other, which issues after judgment, is of divers kinds; as, a capias ad satisfaciendum, or writ of execution; a capias pro fine; a capias ut legatum; a capias in withernam. – Blackstone.