decree
dih-KREE
/dɪˈkriː/
An official order issued by a legal authority; to order or mandate something officially.
Refers to legally binding orders issued by sovereigns, executive rulers, or judicial courts, often without full parliamentary debate.
The story behind the word. The Latin verb 'decernere' meant to separate, sift, or decide (from 'de-' off + 'cernere' to sift). Its past participle 'decretum' meant a formal judicial decision or determination. Through Old French, it entered Middle English as 'decree', retaining its sense of a binding judgment issued from a high court or sovereign ruler.
Word relationships
- ordinance: An ordinance usually refers to local municipal legislation, whereas a decree implies high sovereign or judicial order.
- repeal: A repeal is the official cancellation of a previously issued law or order.
Commonly confused with
- edict: Edict is predominantly a royal or imperial proclamation, while decree applies frequently to modern judicial decisions.
Word family
- decreed (verb): Past tense of decree; ordered officially.
- decreeing (verb): Present participle of decree.
Collocations
- presidential decree
- judicial decree
- issue a decree
- rule by decree
Example sentences
- "Emperor Cyrus issued a decree permitting exiled peoples to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples." Historical Citation (Cyrus Cylinder Inscription / Historical Archives (c. 539 BCE))
- "The family court issued a final decree granting full custody to the mother." Judicial Usage
Memory hook
When the judge DECIDES, he issues a DECREE. Sifting facts to make a formal ruling.
When not to use
Do not use for casual personal choices or non-binding suggestions.
Fun facts
- The root 'cernere' (to sift) is also the root behind 'discern' (to sift out truth) and 'concern'.
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