decree English · revision 39436

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1303, Robert Mannyng's Handlyng Synne|origins=la cernō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /dɪˈkɹiː/, /dəˈkɹiː/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|decre]], [[bor|fro|decré]], a variant of [[m|fro|decret]],^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|dēcrētum|t=decision, ordinance]], the neuter of [[m|la|dēcrētus]], past participle of [[m|la|dēcernō|t=to decide, pronounce judgment]], from [[m|la|dē-]] and [[m|la|cernō|t=to separate, sift, decide]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024)^(Klein 1966)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*krei-|t=to sieve]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) In Anglo-Norman [[m|xno|decré]] is recorded from 1171–74, for a decree, a decretal and canon law.^(AND) The verb, from the late 14th century, was made from the noun.^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A ruling of a church council on doctrine or discipline: 1303, in Robert Mannyng's ''Handlyng Synne''.^(OED 2026) Etymonline also notes that the word was first ecclesiastical, in the early 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Secular decrees, ordinances of a civil authority with the force of law, are found from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026) Protestant theology used it from 1570 for the eternal purposes of God by which events are foreordained.^(OED 2026) Johnson (1755) defined it as an edict or a law, quoting "There went a decree from Cæsar Augustus".^(Johnson 1755) In law it became the judgment of a court of equity (before 1642), in Scots law the final judgment of a civil court (1754), and in Gibbon (1788) a ruling of a Roman emperor.^(OED 2026) The verb, to order by decree, is recorded from 1399 in the Rolls of Parliament, and to ordain as if by fate or divine will from 1593, in Hooker.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1303 – a decree of a church council.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1399 – the verb, to order by decree.^(OED 2026)

+ * ?a1400 – an ordinance of the civil authority.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1570 – one of God's eternal purposes.^(OED 2026)

+ * before 1642 – the judgment of a court of equity.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1788 – a Roman emperor's judicial decision.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An official order issued by a ruler or other [[authority]], with the force of [[law]].^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # ''(law)'' The judgment of a court, especially one of [[equity]] or in divorce proceedings, as in ''[[decree nisi]]''.^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A ruling on doctrine or discipline by a church council or its head.^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD 2024)

+ # ''(theology)'' One of God's eternal purposes, by which events are [[foreordain|alt=foreordained]].^(OED 2026)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To order or decide by decree: ''The council decreed that the market would close at noon.''^(AHD 2024)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To determine or order by judicial decision.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[decreeable]]

+ * [[decreer]]

+ * [[predecree]]

+ * [[undecreed]]

+ * [[consent decree]]

+ * [[decree nisi]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[decretal]]

+ * [[discern]]

+ * [[certain]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}