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definitions

decree

[dih-kree]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR decree ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a formal and authoritative order, especially one having the force of law: a presidential decree.
Law. a judicial decision or order.
Theology. one of the eternal purposes of God, by which events are foreordained.

verb (used with or without object), de·creed, de·cree·ing.

to command, ordain, or decide by decree.

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RELATED WORDS

impose, dictate, declare, enact, proclaim, set, force, decide, oblige, compel, require, pronounce, ordain, rule, prescribe, command, determine, demand, announce, constrain

Origin of decree

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
Related formspre·de·cree, verb (used with object), pre·de·creed, pre·de·cree·ing.un·de·creed, adjectivewell-de·creed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for decreed

Contemporary Examples of decreed

Historical Examples of decreed

  • Atropos has decreed that I at least shall never again enter her walls.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • So the hostess had decreed, and so instructed Alfred and Gracie.

  • She realized that fate had decreed defeat for her in the game.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

  • But, on this unusual occasion, it was decreed that we should black our boots and leggings.

  • That which is coming, and is decreed to come, cannot be very disagreeable.

    Lord Kilgobbin

    Charles Lever

British Dictionary definitions for decreed

decree

noun

an edict, law, etc, made by someone in authority
an order or judgment of a court made after hearing a suit, esp in matrimonial proceedingsSee decree nisi, decree absolute

verb decrees, decreeing or decreed

to order, adjudge, or ordain by decree
Derived Formsdecreeable, adjectivedecreer, noun

Word Origin for decree

C14: from Old French decre, from Latin dēcrētum ordinance, from dēcrētus decided, past participle of dēcernere to determine; see decern
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for decreed

decree

v.

late 14c., from decree (n.). Related: Decreed; decreeing.

decree

n.

early 14c., from Old French decre, variant of decret (12c., Modern French décret), from Latin decretum, neuter of decretus, past participle of decernere "to decree, decide, pronounce a decision," from de- (see de-) + cernere "to separate" (see crisis).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper