1. An order with the power of legislation that is declared by a ruler or another person or group that has government authority: The decrees that abolished slavery were meant to establish the foundations of a nation committed to equality for all people.
2. A ruling that is given by a court or legislature regarding legal actions: The state government sent out an official decree that any foreign immigrants who wanted to live and work in California had to have a legal passport.

1. To proclaim, to declare, or to pronounce something by an authority.
2. A statement presented by a court of law regarding a legal action.
3. Etymology: used since 1303, from Old French decre, a variant of decret; from Latin decretum, neuter of decretus, from decernere, "to decree, to decide, to pronounce a decision"; from de-, "down" + cernere, "to separate".