decree Hear it!

decree Definition

de·cree (dē krē′, di krē′)

noun

  1. an official order, edict, or decision, as of a church, government, court, etc.
  2. something that is or seems to be foreordained

Etymology: ME decre < OFr decret < L decretum, neut. of decretus, pp. of decernere, to decree < de-, from + cernere, to sift, judge: see certain

transitive verb -·creed′, -·cree′·ing

to order, decide, or appoint by decree or officially

intransitive verb

to issue a decree; ordain

decree Synonyms

decree

n.

edict, pronouncement, proclamation, order; see declaration 2, judgment 3.

decree Synonyms

decree

v.

proclaim, announce, pronounce, ordain; see command 1, declare 1.

decree Law Definition

n

A court judgment, especially in a court of equity, bankruptcy, admiralty, divorce, or probate.
consent decree
A written settlement by the parties to a litigation, in the form of a decree signed by the judge.
decree absolute
A final decree entered by the court, after the waiting period set in a decree nisi has expired, without the adverse party persuading the court to set it aside.
decree nisi
A proposed final decree by a court, which will not become final until the expiration of a time period, during which the adversely affected party is given the opportunity to show the court why it should be set aside.
decree Usage Examples

Object

  • fate: Indeed they would not have been unworthy victors had fate decreed otherwise.

Converse of object

  • pronounce: Once the court has pronounced the decree nisi, a formal court order is prepared.
  • elect: Far from being necessary for the fulfillment of Godâs electing decree, the Fall was a departure from Godâs purpose for humanity.
  • enforce: We will then enforce the decree against the party liable.
  • grant: He also granted decree for removing against the defender in terms of the second crave of the initial writ.
  • sign: You know I was going to sign the decree for the tank program.

Adjective modifier

  • presidential: He was retired from military service by Presidential decree on 30 December 2000.
  • papal: No papal decrees, no oral tradition, no latter-day prophesy can contain truth apart from Scripture that is genuinely fundamental.
  • royal: The solution was to get him made Master of Arts in 1819 by royal decree.
  • divine: It is an authoritative divine decree by God's determined judgment.
  • eternal: Our vote cometh too late to retract and alter God's eternal decrees.
  • ministerial: Acts 2935 and 1402 were supplemented by several ministerial decrees having the force of law.

Modifies a noun

  • No.: Article 11: Decree No. 424 dated 10 May 1990 is hereby repealed.

Noun used with modifier

  • divorce: A second filing of the case resulted in a divorce decree in 1883.
  • summary: Summary decree can only be granted once defenses have been lodged.
  • limitation: Antara Koh was therefore not entitled to a limitation decree.
  • consent: Let's talk a bit about your responsibility for technical documentation related to the US Department of Justice consent decree.

Preposition: of

  • nullity: There is no requirement to have been married for more than 12 months to apply for a decree of nullity.
  • divorce: This power arose only on the granting of a decree of divorce.
  • separation: Relationships frequently breakdown and you may be seeking to dissolve the marriage or to obtain a decree of judicial separation.
decree Quotes

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

—Bible (NewTestament)