an official edict or announcement 法令,政令;布告 ■(historical)a Roman emperor's written reply to an appeal for guidance, especially on a legal point (史)(罗马皇帝对法律问题的)解答敕令 ■the Pope's decision on a question of Roman Catholic doctrine or papal law (天主教)教义诏书(教皇就教义或教皇法问题的决定)
语源
late Middle English (denoting a papal decision): from Latin rescriptum, neuter past participle of rescribere 'write back', from re- 'back' + scribere 'write'