decree

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Formal · Technical

n. a final decision made by a judge in a court of law.

n. the judicial decision or determination of a litigated cause, particularly in courts of equity, probate, or admiralty.

“The court's final decree settled the dispute over the family property.”

“The final decree of the probate court distributed the remaining assets among the distant relatives, ending three years of bitter litigation.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Religion Formal · Literary

n. a decision or plan made by God.

n. a predetermination or act of providence attributed to a divine power.

“In many old stories, the hero's path is fixed by a divine decree.”

“Theologians debated whether human suffering was the result of a divine decree or the consequence of free will.”

C1 · Advanced Formal

v. to officially decide or order that something must happen.

v. to command, ordain, or decide by authoritative order. Transitive — usually takes a 'that' clause or a direct object.

Español:decretar

“The king decreed that all citizens must pay a new tax.”

“The council decreed that the historic district would be preserved, effectively halting all modern construction projects in the city centre.”