decree
part of speech
noun (a decree, decrees); verb (decree, decrees, decreed, decreeing)
meaning for a pupil
1) A decree is an official order given by a ruler, a government or a court. tree →
2) To decree something is to order it officially. tree →
3) (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 →
4) (law) A decree can be a court's decision, as in a divorce decree. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and 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. In the primary 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
- 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 →
- 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 the corpora
- Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers that write iniquity;
- He hath also established them for ever and ever; He hath made a decree which shall not be transgressed.
- By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
- Lest they drink, and forget that which is decreed, and pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.
- Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «decree» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.