decree
/dɪˈkriː
/noun
1An official order that has the force of law: the decree guaranteed freedom of assembly presidential decrees...
- However, the announcement must be followed by the promulgation of a presidential decree before it becomes official policy.
- Soldiers on the distant outposts of empire quickly learned that official decrees and restraining orders took months to arrive and counted for little ‘on the ground’.
- While a custody decree is an injunctive order, the courts too often fail to apply the principles that are applicable to all other injunctions.
Synonyms
order, edict, command, commandment, mandate, proclamation, dictum, fiat, promulgation, precept;
law, statute, act, bill, ordinance, regulation, rule, injunction, enactment, manifesto;
in Tsarist Russia ukase;
in Spanish-speaking countries pronunciamento
rare firman, decretal, irade, rescript
1.1 [mass noun] The issuing of a decree: the king ruled by decree...
- Since 2001, his majesty has ruled by decree, issuing more than 160 ‘temporary laws’ pending parliament's approval.
- It has ruled by decree since. In 1990, pro-democracy parties won over 80% of the vote during a free election.
- The military-dominated government then suspended the constitution, dissolved the legislature, and formed a regime that ruled by decree.
1.2A judgement or decision of certain law courts, especially in matrimonial cases.The applicant wishes to obtain a decree of judicial separation....
- First of all, when granting a divorce decree, all the judges must instruct parents to be meaningfully involved with child care.
- In July 2000, the wife issued proceedings in the Irish High Court claiming a decree of judicial separation and other orders.
Synonyms
judgement, verdict, adjudication, ruling, rule, resolution, arbitration, decision, conclusion;
findings
verb (decrees, decreeing, decreed) [with object]
Order (something) by decree: [with clause]: the president decreed that the military was to be streamlined...
- But the executive has decided otherwise, and has decreed that smoking should be banned in all public places.
- Within a few hours he had issued Directive No. 25, decreeing Yugoslavia's obliteration and assigning secondary roles in its conquest to Italy and Hungary.
- California passed a law 20 years ago decreeing a proportion of cars would have to be electric powered.
Synonyms
order, command, rule, dictate, lay down, prescribe, pronounce, proclaim, ordain;
enact, adjudge, enjoin, direct, decide, determine
Origin
Middle English (denoting an edict issued by an ecclesiastical council to settle a point of doctrine or discipline): from Old French decre, decret, from Latin decretum 'something decided', from decernere 'decide'.
Early decrees were edicts issued by an ecclesiastical council to settle a point of doctrine or discipline. The word is from Old French decre, from Latin decretum ‘something decided’, from decernere ‘decide’. The nisi in the term decree nisi (late 19th century) is the Latin word for ‘unless’; the phrase represents a court order stating when a marriage will end ‘unless’ a good reason to prevent divorce is produced.