decree

[dih-kree]

noun

1. a formal and authoritative order, especially one having the force of law.

   a presidential decree.

2. Law.,  a judicial decision or order.

3. Theology.,  one of the eternal purposes of God, by which events are foreordained.

verb (used with or without object)

decreed, decreeing 

1. to command, ordain, or decide by decree.

decree

/ dɪˈkriː /

noun

1. an edict, law, etc, made by someone in authority

2. an order or judgment of a court made after hearing a suit, esp in matrimonial proceedings See decree nisi decree absolute

verb

1. to order, adjudge, or ordain by decree

Other Word Forms

• decreer noun
• decreeable adjective
• predecree verb (used with object)
• undecreed adjective
• well-decreed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of decree¹

1275–1325; (noun) Middle English decre < Anglo-French decre, decret < Latin dēcrētum, noun use of neuter of dēcrētus, past participle of dēcernere; decern; (v.) Middle English decreen, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of decree¹

C14: from Old French decre, from Latin dēcrētum ordinance, from dēcrētus decided, past participle of dēcernere to determine; see _decern

Example Sentences

We could argue the many, many inhumane points of Trumpist decrees if we were actually interested in discussing policy or, say, the mainline Christianity I once knew as a Presbyterian.

Read more on Salon

Academia is attacked for not teaching what the government decrees to be true.

Read more on Salon

Early on, they fell prey to fraudulent land deals, followed by colonial decrees between 1905 and 1913 that designated significant portions of their territory as state property and restricted their landownership rights.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He touted the move in August to create a “quick reaction force” to “quell civil disturbances” — a decree folded into his executive order expanding the D.C. troop deployment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The decree is the latest in a series of restrictions which the Taliban have brought in since returning to power four years ago.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• act 
• announcement 
• directive 
• edict 
• injunction 
• instruction 
• judgment 
• law 
• order 
• proclamation 
• regulation 
• rule 
• ruling 
• statute