decretal

American  

[dih-kreet-l] / dɪˈkrit l /

adjective

1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing a decree or decrees.

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noun

1. a papal decree authoritatively determining some point of doctrine or church law.

2. Decretals, the body or collection of such decrees as a part of the canon law.

decretal British  

/ dɪˈkriːtəl /

noun

1. RC Church a papal edict on doctrine or church law

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adjective

1. of or relating to a decretal or a decree

Other Word Forms

• decretalist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of decretal

1350–1400; Middle English < Old French < Late Latin dēcrētālis fixed by decree, equivalent to dēcrēt ( um ) decree + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Had this been written by the Benedictines, there would have been every reason to think that though Boniface's decretal itself did not forbid dissection it had unfortunately been so misinterpreted.

From The Popes and Science The History of the Papal Relations to Science During the Middle Ages and Down to Our Own Time by Walsh, James J.

This decretal, which was adopted into the canon law, is important as embodying the whole theory of the subject.

From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume I by Lea, Henry Charles

He was instructed to procure from the pope a decretal commission, laying down principles of law by which Wolsey and Campeggio might hear and determine the cause without appeal.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 4 "G" to "Gaskell, Elizabeth" by Various

This decretal is evidently made of matter of different dates, as has been shown by Hefele, § 217, and probably contains matter which may be later than Gelasius.

From A Source Book for Ancient Church History by Ayer, Joseph Cullen

With this canon should be compared the decretal of Gelasius, De Libris Recipiendis, v. supra, § 92.

From A Source Book for Ancient Church History by Ayer, Joseph Cullen