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de·cree /di-'krē/ n [Old French decré, from Latin decretum, from neuter of decretus, past participle of decernere to decide]1: an order having the force of lawby judicial decree2: a judicial decision esp. in an equity or probate court; broadly: judgmentdivorce decreeconsent decree: a decree entered by a court that is determined by the parties' agreement: a settlement between the parties that is subject to judicial approval and supervision; specif: such a decree by which the accused agrees to cease alleged illegal activities without admitting guiltdecree nisi pl decrees nisi: a provisional decree that will become final unless cause is shown why it should not◇ Some states grant divorces using decrees nisi. The decree nisi creates a time period (as of 3 months) allowing for possible reconciliation or for completion of various arrangements (as custody).decree pro con·fes·so: a decree entered by a court based on a defendant's default and the presumption that the allegations are confessed compare default judgment at judgment 1afinal decree: a decree that disposes of an action by determining all matters in dispute including esp. the parties' rights compare final judgment at judgment 1ainterlocutory decree: a decree that is made during the course of an action and that does not settle all matters in disputedecree vb
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.
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I
noun
adjudgment, adjudication, authoritative decision, award, command, commandment, decision, declaration, decretum, dictate, direction, edict, edictum, fiat, final judgment, finding, imperative, interdiction, judgment, judicial decision, mandate, opinion, order, order of the court, placitum, proclamation, pronouncement, pronunciamiento, resolution, ruling, ruling of the court, senatus consultum, sentence, standing order, ukase, verdict
associated concepts: alimony decree, annulment decree, bankruptcy decree, consent decree, declaratory decree, decree for payment of money, decree for possession of property, decree nisi, decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, decree of court of record, decree of dismissal, decree of distribution, decree of nullity, decree of support, decree pro confesso, default decree, deficiency decree, divorce decree, entry of decree, final decree, foreclosure decree, foreign decree, interlocutory decree, joint decree, judicial decree, summary decree, supplemental decree
II
verb
adjudge, adjudicate, award, charge, command, deliver judgment, dictate, direct, establish, exact, find, give judgment, give orders, impose, instruct, issue a fiat, issue a proclamation, issue a ukase, issue an edict, judge, order, pass judgment, prescribe, proclaim, promulgate, pronounce, require, rule, sanction
associated concepts: alimony decree, annulment decree, bankruptcy decree, consent decree, decree by confession, decree nisi, decree of dismissal, decree pro confesso default decree, deficiency decree, divorce decree, entry of decree, final decree, foreclosure decree, foreign decree, interlocutory decree, summary decree, supplemental decree
III
index
adjudge, adjudicate, adjudication, appointment (act of designating), arbitrate (adjudge), arbitration, award (noun), award (verb), brevet, canon, charter (declaration of rights), citation (charge), codification, cognovit, command, compel, conclude (decide), conclusion (determination), constitute (establish), constrain (compel), conviction (finding of guilt), decide, decision (judgment), declaration, detail (assign), determination, determine, dictate (noun), dictate (verb), direct (order), direction (order), directive, edict, enact, enactment, enjoin, fiat, finding, hold (decide), holding (ruling of a court), impose (enforce), instruct (direct), instruction (direction), issuance, judge, judgment (formal court decree), law, legislate, mandamus, mandate, measure, mittimus, monition (legal summons), necessitate, notice (announcement), opinion (judicial decision), order (judicial directive), order, ordinance, pass (approve), pass (determine), precept, prescribe, prescription (directive), press (constrain), proclamation, pronounce (pass judgment), pronouncement, regulation (rule), require (compel), requirement, res judicata, rule (legal dictate), rule (decide), rule (govern), ruling, sentence, statute, warrant (judicial writ), writ
Burton's Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006
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n.The judicial decision of a court in equity made after hearing testimony and determining the rights of the parties, equivalent to a judgment by a court of law, though the term “judgment” may also be used in reference to courts of equity.
The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008.
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an order of a court.
Collins dictionary of law. W. J. Stewart. 2001.
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An order by a judge, resolving issues in a court case. Similar to the term "judgment," but preferred in certain types of cases, like probate matters. (See also: judgment)Category: Accidents & InjuriesCategory: Representing Yourself in CourtCategory: Small Claims Court & LawsuitsCategory: Small Claims CourtCategory: Wills, Trusts & Estates
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.
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n. A court judgment, especially in a court of equity, bankruptcy, admiralty, divorce, or probate.@ consent decreeA written settlement by the parties to a litigation, in the form of a decree signed by the judge.@ decree absoluteA final decree entered by the court, after the waiting period set in a decree nisi has expired, without the adverse party persuading the court to set it aside.@ decree nisiA proposed final decree by a court, which will not become final until the expiration of a time period, during which the adversely affected party is given the opportunity to show the court why it should be set aside.@
Webster's New World Law Dictionary. Susan Ellis Wild. 2000.
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A judgment of a court that announces the legal consequences of the facts found in a case and orders that the court's decision be carried out. A decree in equity is a sentence or order of the court, pronounced on hearing and understanding all the points in issue, and determining the rights of all the parties to the suit, according to equity and good conscience. It is a declaration of the court announcing the legal consequences of the facts found. With the procedural merger of law and equity in the federal and most state courts under the Rules of Civil Procedure, the term judgment has generally replaced decree.
Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.
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I
A judgment of a court that announces the legal consequences of the facts found in a case and orders that the court's decision be carried out. A decree in equity is a sentence or order of the court, pronounced on hearing and understanding all the points in issue, and determining the rights of all the parties to the suit, according to equity and good conscience. It is a declaration of the court announcing the legal consequences of the facts found. With the procedural merger of law and equity in the federal and most state courts under the Rules of Civil Procedure, the term judgment has generally replaced decree.II An order of the court. A final decree is one that fully and finally disposes of the litigation. (See interlocutory.)
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
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n.in general, synonymous with judgment. However, in some areas of the law, the term decree is either more common or preferred as in probates of estates, domestic relations (divorce), admiralty law and in equity (court rulings ordering or prohibiting certain acts). Thus, there may be references to a final or interlocutory decree of divorce, final decree of distribution of a dead person's estate, etc.See also: judgment
Law dictionary. EdwART. 2013.
