an official order issued by a ruler or authority that has the force of law 法令 ■[mass noun]the issuing of such an order 法令的颁布 the king ruled by decree. 国王依法治国。 ■a judgement or decision of certain law courts, especially in matrimonial cases 裁决,判决(尤指与婚姻有关的案件)
(decrees, decreed, decreeing)
[with obj.]order (something) by decree 依法命令 the government decreed a ban on any contact with the guerrillas. 政府下令禁止与游击队有任何联系。 [with clause]the president decreed that the military was to be streamlined. 总统命令精简军队。
语源
Middle English (denoting an edict issued by an ecclesiastical council to settle a point of doctrine or discipline): from Old French decre, decret, from Latin decretum 'something decided', from decernere 'decide'