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

Decretal Multorum querela, in Eymeric, Directorium, 2a pars, p.

From The Inquisition A Critical and Historical Study of the Coercive Power of the Church by Conway, Bertrand L. (Bertrand Louis)

I answer that, There is a threefold opinion regarding the water added to the wine, as Pope Innocent III says in a certain Decretal.

From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Thomas, Aquinas, Saint

Decretal of Innocent III., year 1207, included by Gregory IX. in his "Compilatio."

From A Literary History of the English People From the Origins to the Renaissance by Jusserand, Jean Jules

Decretal, tit. 2., n. 450., of which I give the full reference, his volumes being accessible in the British Museum, if not elsewhere.

From Notes and Queries, Number 50, October 12, 1850 by Various

Having failed to satisfy the king, he left England on the 26th of October 1529, after his baggage had been searched at Dover to find the Decretal, which, however, had been burnt.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2 "Camorra" to "Cape Colony" by Various