decree
/dɪˈkɹiː/ noun, verb
Forms decrees decreeing decreed
- noun An edict or law.
- noun (law) The judicial decision in a litigated cause rendered by a court of equity.
- noun (law) The determination of a cause in a court of admiralty or court of probate.
- noun (religion) A predetermination made by God; an act of providence.
- verb To command by a decree. “A court decrees a restoration of property.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English decre, decree, from Old French decré (French décret), from Latin dēcrētum.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An order from one having authority, deciding what is to be done by a subordinate; also, a determination by one having power, deciding what is to be done or to take place; edict, law; authoritative ru "The decrees of Venice." Sh There went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. Luke ii. 1.
- noun (a) A decision, order, or sentence, given in a cause by a court of equity or admiralty.
- verb To determine judicially by authority, or by decree; to constitute by edict; to appoint by decree or law; to determine; to order; to ordain; as, a court decrees a restoration of property.
- verb To ordain by fate.
Etymology [OE. decre, F. décret, fr. L. decretum, neut. decretus, p. p. of decernere to decide; de- + cernere to decide. See Certain, and cf. Decreet, Decretal.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “decree”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details