Injunction, n.
Etymology: [L. injunctio, fr. injungere, injunctum, to join into, to enjoin. See Enjoin.]
1. The act of enjoining; the act of directing, commanding, or prohibiting.
2. That which is enjoined; an order; a mandate; a decree; a command; a precept; a direction. For still they knew,and ought to have still remembered, The high injunction,not to taste that fruit. Milton. Necessary as the injunctions of lawful authority. South.
3. (Law)
A writ or process, granted by a court of equity, and, insome cases, under statutes, by a court of law,whereby a party is required to do or to refrain from doing certain acts, according to the exigency of the writ.
1 more senses
Note: It is more generally used as a preventive than as a restorative process, although by no means confined to the former. Wharton. Daniell. Story.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for injunction; he lists it under order.
Where he writes about it:
Prohibition is wholly negative; it is a command not to do; injunction is now oftenest so used, especially as the requirement by legal authority that certain action be suspended or refrained from, pending final legal decision. — from order