decree 
action, f"i payment of money secured by a bond or deed 
contniniii" a clause of consent to registration for cxccii- 
tion. Decree of valuation of teinds, in *<"' '""'. a 
decree of the tcind court determining the extent and rune 
of a heritor's teinds. =Syn. 1 and 3. Klict. Kliltulf. etc. 
Si-e In '. 4 and 6. Juagment, Order, etc. (see OKtMon); 
proclamation, tiiit, mandate. 
decree (de-kre'), r. [Cf. F. decrcter = Sp. Pg. 
ilci-ritar = It. dccrrfare = D. dekretercn = G. dc- 
i-niiri'ii = Dan. dckrettre = Sw. dekretera, < ML. 
iii i-retnre, decree; from the noun: see decrei , 
n.] I. //!. 1. To order or promulgate with 
authority; issue as an edict or ordinance. 
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be estab- 
IMied. Jobxxii. 28. 
He [William I.] decreed there should be Sheriffs in every 
Shire, and. I ustiees of Peace for Punishment of Malefactors. 
Jlakcr, Chronicles, p. 27. 
Wherefore fatalists that hold the necessity of all human 
actions and events may be reduced to these three heads : 
First, such as, asserting the l>eity, suppose it irrespective- 
ly to decree and determine all things, and thereby make 
all actions necessary to us. 
Cudwarth, Intellectual System, i. 1. 
In the autumn of 1535 Cromwell and his agents effected 
a visitation of the monasteries, the report o_f which insured 
their condemnation : and, in the last session of the Long 
Parliament in 1536, the dissolution of the smaller houses 
was lUvrenl. Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist,, p. 258. 
2. To determine judicially; resolve by sen- 
tence ; adjudge : as, the court decreed a restora- 
tion of the property. 
Theirs be the laurel-wreath decreed, 
Who both write well, and write full speed. 
Camper, To Robert Lloyd. 
3. To determine or resolve legislatively; de- 
termine or decide on. 
They themselves decreed 
Their own revolt, not I. Milton, P. L., iii. 116. 
= Syn. To order, ordain, command, enact. 
II. iii trans. To determine; predetermine im- 
mutably; constitute or appoint by edict. 
All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all 
As my eternal purpose hath decreed. 
Milton, P. L., iii. 172. 
decreeable (de-kre'a-bl), a. [< decree + -able.] 
Capable of being decreed. 
decreementt (de-kre 'ment), . [< decree + 
-ment.] The act of decreeing ; decree. 
This nnjust decreement . Foxe, Martyrs. 
decreer (de-kre'er), . [< decree + -!.] One 
who decrees. 
In thy book it is written of me, says Christ, that I 
should do thy will ; he is not willing only, but the first de- 
mur of it ; it is written of me. Goodwin, Works, I. iii. 103. 
decreet (de-kref), n. [< OF. decret, < L. decretum, 
a decree: 'see decree.] In Seote late, a decree. 
See decree, n., 1. 
Frendraught . . . obtained a decreet against him for 
200,000 merks. Spaldint/, Hist. Troubles in Scotland, I. 01. 
decrement (dek're-ment), . [= Sp. Pg. It. 
decremento, \ LL. aecremcntitm, a decrease, < L. 
decresccre, decrease : see decrease.] 1. The act 
or state of decreasing; the becoming gradually 
less; lessening; waste. 
I do not believe the understanding part of man received 
any natural decrement or diminution. 
Jer. Tai/lor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 723. 
Rocks, mountains, and the other elevations of the earth 
suffer a continual decrement. Wood-ward. 
2. The quantity lost by gradual diminution or 
waste; specifically, in math., the small part by 
which avariable quantity becomes less and less. 
The increments in time are proportional to the decre- 
ments in pressure. FraiMand, Chemistry, III. i. 880. 
l^ach increment of evolution entails a decrement of re- 
production that is not accurately proportionate, but some- 
what less than proportionate. 
H. Spencer, Prin. of Biol., 364. 
3. In her., the condition of waning: said of 
the moon. It is represented by turning the 
horns of the crescent toward the sinister side. 
Also called detriment. 4. In crystal., a suc- 
cessive diminution of the layers of molecules 
applied to the faces of the primitive form, by 
which the secondary. forms are hypothetically 
produced Equal decrement of life, In the doctrine 
of annuities of insurance companies, the theory that in a 
given number of lives there should be an equal annual 
decrease within a given period. 
decrepit (de-krep'it), n. [< OF. decrepit, F. de- 
crepit = Sp.' decrepito = Pg. It. decreplto, < L. 
decrepitns, an adj. applied to old men and old 
animals, and usually translated 'very old': lit. 
1492 
An old il<-rr>'iiit wretch 
That ha,> no sen^e, no sinew. 
B. Jvnunii, Viilpolle, iii. 6. 
He was already tlici-eiiit with jiremature old age. 
Mi.ltry, Dutch Republic, I. 102. 
[Sometimes incorrectly spelled drn-i-fl. 
Last, winter conies, iln-rrpid, old, and dull. 
.1 rnims, An Ode.] 
decrepitate (do-krep'i-tat), t'. ; pret. and pp. 
decrepitated, ppr. decrepitating. [< NL. as if 
*decrepitatus, pp. of *decrepiturc C> F. d/'i'n /li- 
ter = Sp. Pg. decrepitar = It. decrepitare), < L. 
de- + crepitatus, pp. of erepitare, crackle, break 
with a noise: see crepitate.] I. in trans. To 
crackle, as salt when roasting. 
II. trans. To roast or calcine in a strong heat, 
so as to cause a continual bursting or crackling 
of the substance: as, to decrepitate salt. 
So will it come to pass in a pot of salt, although i/ir>v/ii- 
tated. Sir T. JSriurw, Vulg. Err. 
decrepitation (de-krep-i-ta'shou), n. [= F. 
decrepitation = Sp. decrepitaciim = Pg. decre- 
de- priv. + crepitus, pp. of crepare, make a 
noise, rattle, break with a crash: see crepitate.] 
Broken down in health, physical or mental, 
especially from age ; wasted or worn by infirm- 
ities; weakened, especially by age. 
pitacao = It. dccrcpitasione, < NL. as if *dc- 
crepitatio(n-), < 'decrepitare: see decrepitate.'} 
The act of snapping or bursting with a crack- 
ling noise on being heated, or the crackling 
noise, accompanying the flying asunder of their 
parts, made by various salts and minerals when 
heated. It is caused by the unequal sudden expansion 
of their substance by the heat, or by the expansion and 
volatilization of water or other liquid held mechanically 
within them. 
decrepitly (de-krep'it-li), adv. In a decrepit 
manner; as oiie broken down by infirmities. 
And she rose up decrepitly 
For a last dim look at earth and sea. 
Lomll, Vision of Sir Launfal, ii. 1. 
decrepitness (de-krep'it-nes), . Decrepitude. 
decrepitude (de-krep'i-tud), n. [< F. decrepi- 
tude = Sp. deerepititd = Pg. decrepitude, < L. 
as if "decrcpitudo, < decrepitns, decrepit: see 
decrepit.] The state of being broken down by 
infirmities, physical or mental, especially in- 
firmities of age. 
Many seem to pass on from youth to decrepitude with- 
out any reflection on the end of life. 
Johnxiin, Rambler, No. 78. 
decrepityt (de-krep'i-ti), . [< ML. decrepi- 
ta(t-)s, ' L. d'ecrcpitiis, decrepit: see decrepit.] 
Decrepitude. 
Honest Credulity 
Is a true loadstone to draw on Decrepity ! 
Chapman, All Fools, iv. 1. 
decrescendo (It. pron. da-kre-shen'do), n. [It., 
ppr. of decreseere, < L. decresccre, decrease: see 
decrease."] In music, a gradual diminution of 
force ; a passing from loud to soft : opposed to 
crescendo, and the same as diminuendo: often 
indicated by decres., dec., or the sign ~^>. 
decrescent (de-kres'ent), a. and n. [= F. de- 
croissant, etc., < L. dccresccii(t-)s, ppr. of decres- 
cere, decrease : see decrease, and cf. crescent.] I. 
a. Decreasing; becoming gradually less ; wan- 
ing, as the moon. 
Saddening in her childless castle, sent, 
Between the in-crescent and de-crescent moon, 
Arms for her son, and loosed him from his vow. 
Tennyson, Gareth and Lynette. 
Specifically (a) In her., decreasing or waning: said of 
the moon when represented with the points toward the 
sinister side. Also dccnxrg. ((,) In lot., diminishing grad- 
ually from below upward. 
II. n. In tier., the moon in her decrement: 
used as a bearing. See decrement, 3. 
decrescent-pinnate (de-kres'ent-pin' l 'at), a. In 
hot., , pinnate with leaflets gradually decreasing 
in size from the base. 
decrett, . See decreet, decree. 
decretal (de-kre'tal), a. and n. [< ML. decre- 
talis, < L. decretum, a decree : see decree.] I. 
a. 1. Pertaining to or of the nature of a de- 
cree ; containing a decree or decrees. 
When any sentence of a father is cited, and inserted 
into a decretal epistle of a pope, or any part of the canon 
law, that sentence is thereby made authentical. 
l)"inn', Sermons, xxii. 
2t. Done according to a decree ; decreed : fatal. 
[Bare.] 
So here's a most decretal end of me. 
Chapman, Byron's Tragedy, v. 1. 
II. n. [= F. decretalc = Sp. Pg. decretal = 
It. decretalc, < ML. dccrctale, a decree, neut. 
of adj. decrctaUs: see above.] 1. An authori- 
tative order or decree ; specifically, a letter of 
the pope determining some point or question 
in ecclesiastical law. 
What principle . . . had they then to judge of heresies, 
. . . besides the single dictates or decretals of private 
bishops? Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 315. 
decry 
This is not a process of reasoning, but an act of will a 
il'-i'iilul enveloped in a scientific nimbus. 
J. Miirtiiirui/, Materialism, p. 107. 
2. A book of decrees or edicts; a body of laws; 
specifically [cp.], in the plural, the second part 
of the canon law: so called because it contains 
the decrees of sundry popes determining point s 
of ecclesiastical law. 
Ac in canoun ne in the dccrctalen I can nougte rede a lyne. 
/'/' /.v J'linrman (B), v. 428. 
In the year 1230 Gregory IX. had approved of the five 
I ksof DocrttoJ* Codified by Kaynnnid of I'cnnafort from 
the Extravagants of the recent Popes. 
Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 30V. 
False Decretals, a collection of canon law, of the ninth 
century, purporting to have been made by one Isidorus 
Mercator, and unquestioned till the fifteenth century, 
but since proved to consist largely of spurious or forged 
papal decretals. Also called Pgeudo-lmdorian Desretals, 
to distinguish them from the collection dating from the 
seventh century, attributed to Isidore of Seville, and con- 
sisting of genuine documents. 
decretiont (de-kre'shpn), . [< LL. decretio(n-), 
decrease, < L. decreiiw, pp. of decrescere : see 
decrease.] A decreasing. 
Nor can we now perceive that the world becomes more 
or less than it was, by which defi-i'iimi e might guess at 
a former increase. Bp. Penman, Kxpos. of Creed, i. 
decretist (de-kre 'tist), ii. [= OF. decretiste 
(also decretistre: see dccretinter), F. decrelMc 
= Sp. Pg. dccrctista (cf. It. dccretalista), < ML. 
decretista, < L. decretum, decree : see decree, de- 
cretal. Cf. dccretister.] In medieval universi- 
ties, a student in the faculty of law; specifi- 
cally, a student of the decretals. 
decretistert, n. [ME. decretistre, < OF. decre- 
tixtre, difcretistre, var. of decretiste : see decre- 
tist.] A decretist. 
Ac this doctor and diuinour and decretistre of canon. 
Piers Ploivman (C), xvi. 85. 
decretive (de-kre'tiv), a. [< L. decret-um, de- 
cree, + -ire.] Having the force of a decree; 
pertaining to a decree. 
decretorialt (dek-re-to'ri-al), a. [< decretory 
+ -al.] Decretory; authoritative; critical. 
Besides the nsuall or calendary month, there are but 
foure considerable, that is, the month of peragration, of 
apparition, of consecution, and the medicall or decreto- 
riall month. Sir T. Bromir, Vulg. Err., iv. 2. 
decretorily (dek're-to-ri-li), adr. In a defini- 
tive manner; as decreed. 
decretory (dek're-to-ri), a. [= F. decretoire = 
Sp. Pg. It. aeeretorio, < L. decretorius, < decretum, 
a decree: see decree.] 1. Pertaining to or fol- 
lowing a decree ; established by a decree ; judi- 
cial; definitive. 
They that . . . are too decretory ami enunciative of 
speedy judgments to their enemies, turn their religion 
into revenge. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 819. 
Sirs, you are not sure that when the decretory hour of 
death overtakes you, you shall have one minute of an hour 
allowed you to commit your spirits into the hand of the 
Lord Jesus Christ. C. Mather, Mag. Christ., iv. 7. 
2f. Critical; determining; in which there is 
some definitive event. 
The main considerations, which most set off this num- 
ber, are observations drawn from the motions of the 
moon, supposed to be measured by sevens, and the criti- 
cal or decretory daies dependent on that number. 
Hir T. Bromie, Vulg. Err., iv. 12. 
decrewt (de-kro'), v. i. [For *decrue (as ac- 
crew for accrue), < OF. decru, F. decrii, pp. of 
decreistre, decroistre, F. de'croitre, decrease : see 
decrease.] To decrease. 
Sir Arthegall renewed 
His strength still more, but she still more decrewed. 
Spemer, F. Q., IV. vi. 18. 
decrial (de-kri'al), . [< ilrcry + -ill.] A cry- 
ing down ; a clamorous censure ; condemnation 
by censure. 
Forward wits . . . can on no account afterwards sub- 
mit to a decrial or disparagement of those raw works to 
which they ow'd their early character and distinction. 
Shaftesbury, Misc. Reflections, V. ii. 
decrier (de-kri'er), n. [< decry + -er 1 .] One 
who decries or traduces clamorously. 
The late fanatic deeryern of the necessity of human 
learning. Snn/l/, Sermons. VII. ii. 
decrown (de-kroun'), r. t. [< F. di'i-i 
decrown: see discrown.] To deprive of a 
crown; discrown. [Rare.] 
Dethroning and <t'-<'i-nir,ii n;i princes with his foot, as it 
pleases him [the pope]. 
H alee trill, Ans. to Dr. Carrier (1616), p. 37. 
He holds it to he no more sin the ili'i-i-""-/i/u : / nt kings 
than our puritans do the suppression of bishops. 
Sir T. <h-<Th<ti-ii. Characters. 
decrustation (de-krus-ta'shon), . [< de- priv. 
+ cruxtatioH.] The act of removing a crust. 
decry (de-kri'), v. t. ; pret. and pp. decried, ppr. 
iiii/. [< F. decrier, OF. deserter, cry down, 
