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

On her most popular Telegram channel she has issued "decrees" to absolve her more than 36,000 followers from bills and debts.

From BBC

Two years earlier, a federal judge had appointed Bobb to serve as independent monitor of the Seattle Police Department’s consent decree with the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Last month, the Italian government signed an emergency decree, after agreeing a protocol with unions and bosses to stop people having to work during the hottest hours of the day.

From BBC

After only six months in office the second time around, driven by numerous unlawful decrees, nearly every department and agency in the federal government has eliminated its civil rights enforcement division.

From Salon

“My divorce decree had come through that day,” she said.

From Salon

Related Words

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