decree

de·cree

Use decree in a sentence

noun

The definition of a decree is an official order or decision.

An example of decree is the New York legislative decision making same sex marriage legal in New York in June of 2011.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"decree." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Decree>.

APA Style

decree. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Decree

decree

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

Origin of decree

Middle English decre from Old French decret from Classical Latin decretum, neuter of decretus, past participle of decernere, to decree from de-, from + cernere, to sift, judge: see certain

transitive verb

-·creed′, -·cree′ing

to order, decide, or appoint by decree or officially

to issue a decree; ordain

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"decree." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Decree>.

APA Style

decree. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Decree

decree

noun

An authoritative order having the force of law.
Law
a. The judgment of a court of equity.
b. The judgment of a court.
Roman Catholic Church
a. A doctrinal or disciplinary act of an ecclesiastical authority.
b. An administrative act applying or interpreting articles of canon law.

verb

de·creed, de·cree·ing, de·crees

verb

transitive

To order, establish, or decide by decree: decreed that the two kingdoms would be united.

verb

intransitive

To issue a decree.

Origin of decree

Middle English decre from Old French decret from Latin dēcrētum principle, decision from neuter past participle of dēcernere to decide dē- de- cernere to sift ; see krei- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

de·cree′a·ble
adjective

de·cre′er
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"decree." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Decree>.

APA Style

decree. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Decree

Noun

(plural decrees)

An edict or law.
(law) The judicial decision in a litigated cause rendered by a court of equity.
(law) The determination of a cause in a court of admiralty or court of probate.

Usage notes

It is accurate to use the word judgment for a decision of a court of law, and decree from a court of equity, although the former term now includes both.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present decrees, present participle decreeing, simple past and past participle decreed)

To command by a decree.
A court decrees a restoration of property.

Anagrams

recede

Origin

From Old French decré (French décret), from Latin dēcrētum.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"decree." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Decree>.

APA Style

decree. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Decree

decree - Legal 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.