decree

[ dih-kree ]
See synonyms for: decreedecreeddecrees on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a formal and authoritative order, especially one having the force of law: a presidential decree.

  2. Law. a judicial decision or order.

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

verb (used with or without object),de·creed, de·cree·ing.
  1. to command, ordain, or decide by decree.

Origin of decree

1
1275–1325; (noun) Middle English decre<Anglo-French decre, decret<Latin dēcrētum, noun use of neuter of dēcrētus, past participle of dēcernere;see decern; (v.) Middle English decreen, derivative of the noun

Other words from decree

  • pre·de·cree, verb (used with object), pre·de·creed, pre·de·cree·ing.
  • un·de·creed, adjective
  • well-de·creed, adjective

Words Nearby decree

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use decree in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for 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

verbdecrees, decreeing or decreed
  1. to order, adjudge, or ordain by decree

Origin of decree

1
C14: from Old French decre, from Latin dēcrētum ordinance, from dēcrētus decided, past participle of dēcernere to determine; see decern

Derived forms of decree

  • decreeable, adjective
  • decreer, noun

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