First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1decree
noun de·cree \di-ˈkrē\
: an official order given by a person with power or by a government
: an official decision made by a court of law
Full Definition of DECREE
1
: an order usually having the force of law
2
a : a religious ordinance enacted by council or titular head b : a foreordaining will
3
a : a judicial decision of the Roman emperor b : a judicial decision especially in an equity or probate court
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Origin of DECREE
Middle English, from Anglo-French decré, from Latin decretum, from neuter of decretus, past participle of decernere to decide, from de- + cernere to sift, decide — more at certain
Related to DECREE
- Synonyms
- behest, charge, commandment, command, dictate, direction, directive, do, edict, imperative, injunction, instruction, order, word
Other Legal Terms
Rhymes with DECREE
ackee, Agee, agley, aiguille, agree, Albee, alee, ani, at sea, Attlee, Bacchae, bailee, Bangui, banshee, bargee, bawbee, bee tree, Belgae, big tree, bohea, bootee, bougie, break free, buckshee, burgee, Bt, callee, Capri, carefree, CB, CD, Chablis, Chaldee, chickpea, chili, church key, confit, cowpea, croquis, curie, dead-tree, debris, deep-sea, degree, Denis, donee, DP, draftee, drawee, Dundee, emcee, ennui, esprit, etui, farci, feoffee, flame tree, foresee, for free, fringe tree, fusee, GB, germfree, glacis, goatee, grandee, grand prix, grantee, green tea, GT, heart-free, he/she, high sea, high tea, Horae, hot key, Humvee, IC, in fee, IV, Jaycee, jaygee, jayvee, Jiangxi, knock-knee, KP, latchkey, lessee, listee, look-see, low-key, LP, lychee, mamey, maquis, Marie, marquee, MC, mentee, Midi, mille-feuille, muggee, must-see, Nancy, ngwee, North Sea, OD, off-key, ogee, Osee, Parcae, pardie, Parsi, passkey, Pawnee, payee, PC, Pee Dee, peewee, pewee, PG, pledgee, pollee, pongee, post-free, précis, puree, puttee, qt, raki, rani, razee, Red Sea, rooftree, Ross Sea, rupee, rushee, RV, scot-free, settee, Shaanxi, shade tree, Shanxi, s/he, shift key, shoe tree, sightsee, signee, silk tree, sirree, smoke tree, snap pea, snow pea, spadille, spahi, spondee, squeegee, standee, state tree, strophe, suttee, sweat bee, sycee, TB, tepee, testee, 3-D, titi, to-be, toll-free, topee, to sea, towhee, townee, trainee, Tralee, trochee, trustee, Tupi, turfski, turnkey, tutee, Tutsi, tutti, TV, unbe, vendee, vestee, Volsci, vouchee, whangee, whoopee, wind tee, would-be, Yangtze, yen-shee
2decree
verb
: to order or decide (something) in an official way
de·creedde·cree·ing
Full Definition of DECREE
transitive verb
1
: to command or enjoin by or as if by decree <decree an amnesty>
2
: to determine or order judicially <decree a punishment>
intransitive verb
: ordain
— de·cre·er \-ˈkrē-ər\ noun
See decree defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DECREE
14th century
DECREE Defined for Kids
1decree
noun de·cree \di-ˈkrē\
Definition of DECREE for Kids
: an order or decision given by a person or group in authority
2decree
verb
de·creedde·cree·ing
Definition of DECREE for Kids
: to give an order as an authority <Mom decreed that it was bedtime.>
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