decree
UK[dɪˈkriː]US[dɪˈkriː]
n
an official order that has the force of law
v
to order something officially, using the authority of a government, ruler, or court
Etymology
The word 'decree' entered English in the late 14th century from the Anglo-French 'decré', itself derived from the Old French 'decret'. Its ultimate source is the Latin 'decretum', meaning "a decision, an edict," which is the neuter past participle of the verb 'decernere', meaning "to decide, judge, or pronounce a decision." 'Decernere' is a compound of 'de-' (meaning "off, completely") and 'cernere' (meaning "to sift, separate, judge"). The core logic flows from the literal act of sifting or separating facts to reach a definitive judgment, which evolved into the formal, authoritative pronouncement signified by a modern decree.
Analysis
This word is a simplex loanword from Latin. It is not productively formed from separable English morphemes and should not be forcibly segmented.
Examples
The government issued a decree banning public gatherings.
The king decreed that a national holiday would be observed.
The court's final decree settled the matter conclusively.