◙ noun 1. 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) 1. [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】
1. 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'