decree
noun (a decree, decrees); verb (decree, decrees, decreed, decreeing)
Everyday
- A decree is an official order given by a ruler, a government or a court. tree →
- To decree something is to order it officially. tree →
- (Bible) In the Bible, Caesar Augustus sent out a decree that everyone must be counted, which is why Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem. tree →
- (law) A decree can be a court's decision, as in a divorce decree. tree →
In the lessons
In history and RE pupils meet decrees of kings, emperors and popes; in the Christmas story the decree sends the family to Bethlehem. In stories a king decrees a feast or a law. Phrases: «issue a decree», «by royal decree», «decree that».
Examples
- The king issued a decree that all dogs must wear bells. tree →
- By royal decree, the day was a holiday. tree →
- «In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus,» the reader began. tree →
- The emperor decreed that a new road should be built. tree →
- The court gave its final decree on the divorce. tree →
- Mum decreed that there would be no screens at dinner. (humorous) tree →
- So he had put forth a decree that whosoever should be able to make her laugh should marry her. tree →
Note
Stress on the second syllable: de-CREE. Verb forms: decreed, decreeing (keep both e's). Do not confuse with «degree» (a unit of temperature or angle, or a university qualification).
In Jewish tradition
An official order of a king, or God's fixed law. Persian kings made decrees in Ezra, Esther and Daniel.
Interpretation. Tradition reads God's decrees as His laws and plans for the world. Purim recalls how a cruel royal decree was overturned.
Examples
- By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. (Writings PRO.8.15, JPS 1917) tree →
- And prescribed for it My decree, and set bars and doors, (Writings JOB.38.10, JPS 1917) tree →
- I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.' (Writings EZR.6.12, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Stress on the second syllable: de-CREE. Verb forms: decreed, decreeing (keep both e's). Do not confuse with «degree» (a unit of temperature or angle, or a university qualification).
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «decree» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «decree» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «decree» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «decree» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/decree/